CDC Around the World: April 24 is World Meningitis Day

CDC Around the World: April 24 is World Meningitis Day

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

April 24 is World Meningitis Day. Vaccination is the best defense against this disease and has saved thousands of lives in Africa. View full-sized photo

Spotlighted Topic of the Week: World Meningitis Day

CDC Ebola Updates

In the News

On the Calendar

Spotlighted Topic of the Week: World Meningitis Day

Spotlighted Infographic MENINGITIS A: DEADLY, EXPENSIVE, PREVENTABLE View full-sized infographic

Spotlighted Video

CDC RESPONDS TO MENINGITIS IN BURKINA FASO Epidemics of bacterial meningitis in Africa can affect hundreds of thousands of people and kill many thousands. CDC's Dr. Rana Hajjeh describes how CDC has contributed to development of an inexpensive vaccine and is now working with partners to ensure it is used where needed most and evaluated for effectiveness…watch video

Spotlighted Story

AN UPDATE ON GLOBAL PARTNERS REACHING THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF ELIMINATING EPIDEMIC MENINGITIS AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN IN AFRICA Worldwide, the largest burden of meningococcal meningitis (caused by Neisseria meningitidis) occurs in the sub-Saharan Africa meningitis belt— from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east where an estimated 430 million people are at risk from meningitis epidemics. About 90% of meningitis cases in this region are due to serogroup A. Meningococcal meningitis is a highly contagious infection of the linings that surround the brain and spinal cord. It can cause severe brain damage and is fatal in 50% of cases if untreated. The human and socioeconomic toll of these epidemics are devastating…read story

CDC Ebola Updates

Latest Outbreak Info The World Health Organization has reported 26,109 cases of Ebola and 10,835 deaths worldwide…read more Q & A on Ebola Ebola: Getting to Zero [VIDEO]  More resources on the CDC Ebola website >>

In the News

Ebola Outbreak May Have Led to Almost 11,000 More Malaria Deaths: Study U.S. News & World Report APRIL 24, 2015 Building local capacity to fight epidemics The Baltimore Sun APRIL 22, 2015 U.S. To Partner With Africa On New African CDC Here & Now APRIL 21, 2015 Ebola Lying in WaitThe New York Times APRIL 20, 2015 CDC’S Frieden among TIME's 100 Most Influential People TIME APRIL 16, 2015 Disease Detection Gets A Boost With Plans For A CDC In Africa WABE APRIL 14, 2015 African CDC to Open in 2015 TIME APRIL 13, 2015 New WHO guideline: optimal serum and red blood cell folate concentrations in women of reproductive age for prevention of neural tube defects CDC has published a policy note highlighting a new guideline issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). Released last week, the Guideline on Optimal Serum and Red Blood Cell Folate Concentrations in Women of Reproductive Age for Prevention of Neural Tube Defectsdefines the level at which serious birth defects of the brain and spine, called neural tube defects, are best prevented based on population-level biomarkers. According to the guideline, at the population level, red blood cell folate concentrations should be above 400 ng/mL (906 nmol/L) in women of reproductive age, to achieve the greatest reduction of neural tube defects.

On the Calendar

April 24: World Meningitis Day April 25: World Malaria Day April 24-30: World Immunization Week