The first annual World Meningitis Day is April 25, 2009 and is meant to raise awareness and educate Americans about the dangers of contracting the meningococcal disease.
"We recognize the dangers of meningitis and the importance of being vaccinated against the disease," said Fran Lessans, CEO of Passport Health, a provider of travel medical services and immunizations in the U.S. "Passport Health wants to honor this day and show its support by offering to vaccinate and educate Americans about the disease."
Travel season is quickly approaching and travelers should be aware that many popular travel destinations are in countries where meningitis is endemic. International travel and migration facilitate the rapid intercontinental spread of meningococcal disease, according to The Journal of Travel Medicine. "The disease is endemic in the meningococcal belt which runs through sub-Saharan Africa," added Lessans. "This area stretches from Senegal to Ethiopia across the middle of the continent."
The meningitis vaccine is especially recommended, if not required, for the following people: students attending college/universities, students studying abroad, travelers, camp attendees, humanitarian workers, missionary workers, and volunteer abroad workers.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is an estimated total population of 300 million people living in along this belt. You can find more information related to the meningococcal belt in Passport Health's "country of the month" blog. In honor of World Meningitis Day, the daily blog will focus on meningitis and how it can affect travelers.
Meningitis is a serious disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 20 percent of those infected have long-term consequences and between 10 percent to 12 percent die from the disease each year. The United States has nearly 3,000 cases of the disease every year. The disease is transferred through respiratory secretions and the spread of the disease is facilitated through prolonged contact. Be aware that meningitis can be contracted by people of all ages, not just college-bound students.
For more information about meningitis, visit http://passporthealthusa.com/vaccines/home.Meningococcal.html
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
Targeting Uncertainty: Why Pregnancy May Be the Best Time to Build Vaccine Confidence
July 15th 2025New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen infection prevention.
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
IP LifeLine: Layoffs and the Evolving Job Market Landscape for Infection Preventionists
July 11th 2025Infection preventionists, once hailed as indispensable during the pandemic, now face a sobering reality: budget pressures, hiring freezes, and layoffs are reshaping the field, leaving many IPs worried about their future and questioning their value within health care organizations.