Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but potentially devastating disease which can strike anyone, anywhere in the world. In the global race to defeat meningitis, we all have a part to play. We’re constantly innovating to protect against the different causes of acute bacterial meningitis and prevent the preventable...
Thomas Triomphe
Executive Vice President and Global Head of Vaccines
Did You Know?
Meningitis is a global public health threat(1)
Meningitis can progress rapidly, leaving little time to act(1)
Meningitis signs and symptoms can be easily confused with other illnesses such as, flu, COVID-19 and malaria.(2, 3, 4)
It's Time to Tackle Meningitis Globally, Once and For All
Meningitis, a vaccine-preventable disease, affects millions of people around the world. Yet progress toward defeating it lags behind other infectious diseases.1, 5, 6
Everyone has the right to meningitis prevention and treatment. But awareness varies widely, and vaccination recommendations differ from country to country. Recognizing the significant impact of meningitis, the World Health Organization (WHO) has initiated a worldwide call-to-action developing a roadmap to defeat Meningitis by 2030.6
Let’s Fly the Meningitis Flag
The Meningitis Flag is not just a flag. It is a symbol of determination, to unite the world in the fight against meningitis. An exciting new phase, building upon the work of an ambitious global movement.
The Meningitis Flag has been inspired and co-created by 3 para-athletes affected by this devastating disease and the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF), the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) working with Sanofi.
Meningitis Stories
Theo: Every Minute Counts in the Race to Defeat Meningitis
Davide: Surviving Meningitis as an Athlete
References
- World Health Organization. Meningitis. [Accessed August 2023]
- Meningitis Research Foundation. Meningitis and septicaemia symptoms. Available at: https://www.meningitis.org/meningitis/check-symptoms [Accessed July 2023]
- WHO. Influenza (Seasonal). Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)#:~:text=Signs%20and%20symptoms,last%202%20or%20more%20weeks. [Accessed July 2023]
- WHO. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Available at: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_3 [Accessed July 2023]
- GBD 2017 Causes of Death Collaborators. Global, regional, and national age sex- specific mortality for 282 causes of death in 195 countries and territories, 1980-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2018;392(10159):1736-88.
- World Health Organization. Defeating Meningitis by 2030. [Accessed August 2023]
Page updated August 2023