What is it about?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord, and the leading infectious cause of neurological disability worldwide. As part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, we estimated meningitis cases, deaths and causes in every country from 1990 to 2023, looking at 17 different germs - the most complete analysis to date. In 2023 there were about 2.5 million cases and 259,000 deaths, and more than a third of deaths were in children under five. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, enteroviruses and other viruses were the leading causes of death, while enteroviruses caused the most cases. The four vaccine-preventable bacteria targeted by WHO caused nearly 100,000 deaths. Low birthweight, premature birth and household air pollution were the main risk factors.

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Why is it important?

Deaths and cases have fallen substantially since 1990 thanks to vaccination, but progress is too slow to reach the WHO 2030 'Defeating Meningitis' targets. Beyond classic bacteria, the study highlights emerging threats such as Candida and drug-resistant fungi. It provides the evidence needed to strengthen surveillance, vaccination, maternal screening for Group B streptococcus and health systems, especially in the African meningitis belt.

Perspectives

Meningitis is a disease that can kill or disable within hours, and most of its burden is preventable. Contributing to this GBD analysis was a reminder that vaccines are among the greatest achievements of medicine, and that the job is far from finished, particularly for the youngest children in low-resource settings.

Professor Stefano Di Bella
Universita degli Studi di Trieste

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: 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, The Lancet Neurology, March 2026, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(26)00101-8.
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