Global, regional, and national burden of meningitis, its risk factors, and aetiologies, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 - PubMed
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- In 2023, meningitis caused 259,000 deaths and 2.54 million incident cases globally, with over a third of deaths occurring in children under 5 years old.
- Leading causes of death were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, non-polio enteroviruses, and other viruses, while non-polio enteroviruses caused the most cases.
- The four preventable meningitis pathogens (S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, Group B streptococcus) contributed to 98,700 deaths and 594,000 cases in 2023.
- Top risk factors for meningitis-related mortality include low birthweight, short gestation, and household air pollution.
- Although mortality and incidence have declined since 1990, progress is insufficient to meet WHO 2030 targets, with persistent burdens from both bacterial and emerging non-bacterial pathogens.
- Achieving WHO goals requires sustained investment in surveillance, vaccination, maternal screening, and health-system strengthening, especially in high-burden regions like the African meningitis belt.