The World Health Organization announced on Thursday that it is initiating a USD 1.5 billion effort to eradicate bacterial meningitis outbreaks throughout Africa by 2030, which is likely to include the development of a new vaccine. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 50 million children in Africa′s vaccination programs have been delayed, raising concerns about the deadly disease′s potential resurgence.

WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said that to prevent meningitis, 26 of Africa′s most vulnerable nations will receive "a next-generation" vaccination by the first quarter of 2023. The vaccine is anticipated to be approved by WHO, allowing donors to purchase it for Africa. Clinical testing confirmed the safety and effectiveness against several types of meningitis.

The vaccine may be introduced as early as next year and given in large-scale campaigns until 2030 when the WHO intends to end bacterial meningitis outbreaks in the continent′s 54 countries and 1.3 billion inhabitants, she added.

Depending on the availability of the shot and the ability of health professionals to administer it, the WHO projected that the proposal might save more than 140,000 people annually. WHO data, showed that despite "a minor improvement" being noted in 2021, meningitis control activities were lowered by 50% in 2020 compared to 2019 before the COVID-19 outbreak in Africa.

According to data from the WHO, children under the age of five account for roughly half of meningitis cases and fatalities. The fatal type of meningitis is bacterial, though fungi and viruses also cause meningitis. Meningitis has the potential to spread like an epidemic, can be lethal within 24 hours, and leaves one in five patients permanently disabled. (ETHealthWorld, September 09, 2022)