UK: Cases of Viral Meningitis Set to Rise
Viral meningitis is common, but many cases go unreported, say researchers in this weeks British Medical Journal. And due to the increasing incidence of genital herpes in the UK, cases of meningitis caused by the herpes simplex virus are set to rise, they warn.
In 2005-6, 2898 people were admitted to hospital in England with a diagnosis of viral meningitis, yet this is 10 times the number of cases notified to the Health Protection Agency in both England and Wales over the same period.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord and is most common in young children. Viral meningitis generally has a good prognosis, but bacterial meningitis is life-threatening and requires prompt treatment. However, the symptoms are similar (fever, severe headache, nausea and vomiting, dislike of light and a stiff neck) and they cannot reliably be differentiated, so all suspected cases should be referred to hospital.
Enteroviruses are the most common cause of viral meningitis at all ages, and infants and young children are most susceptible. No specific antiviral treatment is available. Herpes simplex virus now ranks second among the causes of viral meningitis in adolescents and adults and is set to increase as the incidence of genital herpes rises. Other causes include varicella zoster virus (the cause of chickenpox and shingles), HIV and mumps. Before widespread immunization, mumps was a common cause of meningitis. The recent epidemic among young adults was associated with more than 100 cases of mumps meningitis in England in 2004-6.
Source: British Medical Journal
A Controversial Reboot: New Vaccine Panel Faces Scrutiny, Support, and Sharp Divides
June 26th 2025As the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for the first time under sweeping changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the national spotlight turned to the panel’s legitimacy, vaccine guidance, and whether science or ideology would steer public health policy in a polarized era.
Getting Down and Dirty With PPE: Presentations at HSPA by Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski
June 26th 2025In the heart of the hospital, decontamination technicians tackle one of health care’s dirtiest—and most vital—jobs. At HSPA 2025, 6 packed workshops led by experts Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski spotlighted the crucial, often-overlooked art of PPE removal. The message was clear: proper doffing saves lives, starting with your own.
