Meningitis A is the infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord caused by bacteria, with Neisseria meningitidis bacteria being the most likely to cause wide epidemics. It affects about 600 to 1000 people in the United States. Common symptoms include stiff neck, headache, vomiting, rash, confusion, high fever and light sensitivity.
According to the World Health Organization, about 5 to 10 percent of patients die a day or two after the onset of these symptoms. For the survivors, about 10 to 20 percent of them may result in brain damage, deafness, loss of limb, or learning disability.
Good news, though, a recent report says that a cheap vaccine has almost wiped meningitis A from Africa, where it has the highest rates. Read more in this article by Justine Alford on IFL Science:
Cheap Vaccine Has Almost Wiped Meningitis A From Africa
Another vaccine triumph: Just five years after a cheap jab for meningitis A was developed, the devastating disease is almost gone from the parts of Africa it has ravaged for the past century. While its success should be heralded, this is by no means time for complacency. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that this progress threatens to be undone if affected countries don’t routinely immunize children against this disease. Read more…
Although this cheap vaccine has almost wiped meningitis A in Africa, it’s still important to be careful. Like any other vaccines, this one is not 100 percent effective.
Meningitis A can be spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat (oral) secretions, such as spit and saliva. It can easily be passed on through kissing, among other ways of direct contact.
Image Credit: Cheap Vaccine Has Almost Wiped Meningitis A From Africa – IFL Science
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