World Meningitis Day – October 5, 2022, history significance
World Meningitis Day was celebrated on April 24 every year but in 2022 the date changed to October 5, so that the maximum number of people can be a part of the celebration. This day is celebrated worldwide to raise awareness about the disease Meningitis which is a condition in which the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord become inflamed (swell). It is critical to understand the origin of meningitis because treatment varies based on the reason.
HISTORY OF WORLD MENINGITIS DAY
In ancient literature, meningitis is mentioned. In his writings, Hippocrates discussed meningitis. Sir Robert Whytt, an Edinburgh physician, first diagnosed tuberculous meningitis in a posthumous report published in 1768.
However, it took another 100 years to identify the link between tuberculosis and Tubercle bacilli. It’s difficult to estimate how long meningitis has been a part of our life with certainty because medical capabilities to diagnose the condition are relatively new in human history. Hippocrates (c.460 to 370 B.C.), a great Greek scholar, was the first to notice what could have been meningitis when he noticed inflammation of the brain’s lining.
Thomas Willis (1621 to 1675), who reported individuals with “inflammation of the meninges with a constant fever” in 1661, is one of the first accounts of meningitis that we can find. The term ‘meningitis’ was developed in the early 1800s by French and English physicians, who combined the word ‘meninges’ (the name of the brain lining) with the suffix ‘itis,’ signifying inflammation.
The first World Meningitis Day was held in 2008, and the Confederation of Meningitis Organizations (CoMO) has used it every year since then to promote awareness of meningitis as a global public health issue.
The campaign has always been held on April 24th, but to allow more people to participate, it has been moved to October 5, as we are striving to have it declared as an official health day. If we can make World Meningitis Day an official health day, we will be able to use a larger platform to reach out to more individuals with life-saving knowledge concerning meningitis.
The reason for the change in when the day is celebrated is that the campaign was held in April and it was always sandwiched between two other major health programs, making it impossible for additional partners to engage in a meaningful way.
It is believed that by moving the date to October 5, more people will be able to unite around the same message and join the battle to eradicate meningitis by 2030. Improved global recognition for World Meningitis Day is part of WHO’s Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis by 2030.
The campaign is recognized as an important part of the “Advocacy and Engagement” theme, which aims to raise public and political attention about meningitis and its implications. CoMO is now in contact with the World Health Organization (WHO) on getting World Meningitis Day approved as an official health day.
WORLD MENINGITIS DAY TIMELINE
1805
The First Outbreak
Gaspard Vieusseux and Andre Matthey in Geneva, along with Elisa North in Massachusetts report Meningitis for the first time.
1840
Africa
The first outbreak of meningitis in Africa is reported in 1840, causing a large number of casualties.
1887
Bacterial Meningitis
Austrian bacteriologist Anton Vaykselbaum characterizes meningococcal bacteria in 1887, with the help of the first evidence linking bacterial infection as a cause of meningitis.
Late 19th Century
Introduction of C.S.F. Profiles for Meningitis
Heinrich Quincke uses his lumbar H. Houston Merritt puncture technique to do the first cerebrospinal fluid study (C.S.F.), along with William Mestrezat, and starts compiling a comprehensive sequence of C.S.F. samples in meningitis.
HOW TO OBSERVE WORLD MENINGITIS DAY
Raise awareness about the disease
World’s Meningitis Day can be celebrated by providing necessary information about the disease. You can write a letter to the government officials in your area so that they can take action in raising awareness about the disease as it is more effective.
Write about your experience with Meningitis
You can write if you’ve ever had meningitis, whether you got it yourself or someone you knew had it. Your story will help people understand the severity of this disease and how to cope with it.
Raise money for patients suffering from meningitis
You can raise money for the people who are dealing with the deadly disease. This will help them to boost themselves and remain steadfast against the disease.
5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MENINGITIS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW
Bacterial meningitis can strike anyone
Different forms of meningitis put some people at increased risk.
Vaccine does not protect against all variants
Different vaccines have been recommended for people of different age groups while the original vaccine, declared to assist the body to fight off meningitis, does not cure all the variants of the disease.
Meningitis can have long-term damage
In addition to the well-known symptoms, Meningitis can cause severe and long-term damage.
Death rate due to meningitis
The total case-fatality rate was 25% in a survey of 493 occurrences of bacterial meningitis in adults.
Spread of meningitis
Airborne droplets and direct touch with an infected individual spread meningococcal meningitis.
WHY WORLD MENINGITIS DAY IS IMPORTANT
It helps people understand the suffering of patients
Celebrating Meningitis Day helps normal people get to know about the disease and the death rate. This creates a sense of care and affection for the patients and how they go through different phases.
It boosts patients’ morale for survival
By celebrating Meningitis Day, patients feel good about the actions of those involved. Talking to patients about the disease makes them feel loved and they feel that they should gather their willpower and survive for their loved ones.
The day encourages people to have regular checkups
Celebrating this day encourages people to not neglect their health conditions and take regular yearly checkups. This prevents people from getting this disease, and diagnosis at the earliest if encountered.
