The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever global guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and care of meningitis, marking a major step in the fight against one of the world’s most dangerous infectious diseases. The new guidance is designed to speed up detection, ensure timely and effective treatment, and improve long-term care and support for those affected by the disease.
Meningitis, particularly the bacterial form, remains a major global health threat despite the availability of effective treatments and vaccines. In 2019 alone, an estimated 2.5 million cases were reported worldwide, including 1.6 million cases of bacterial meningitis that led to around 240,000 deaths. The disease can become fatal within just 24 hours and often leaves survivors with serious long-term complications. Around 20% of those infected develop lasting disabilities that impact their quality of life, placing an additional financial and emotional burden on families and communities.
“Bacterial meningitis kills one in six of the people it strikes, and leaves many others with lasting health challenges,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Implementing these new guidelines will help save lives, improve long-term care for those affected by meningitis, and strengthen health systems.”
The burden of meningitis is heaviest in low- and middle-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa’s so-called ‘meningitis belt’, where recurrent epidemics are common. WHO’s new guidelines are tailored for these settings and offer technical guidance that is practical and actionable in resource-limited environments.
The guidelines cover the full spectrum of clinical care for children (over one month), adolescents, and adults with acute community-acquired meningitis. They include recommendations on diagnosis, antibiotic and adjunctive therapy, supportive care, and management of long-term effects. They address both bacterial and viral causes and are applicable in both epidemic and non-epidemic settings.
These guidelines are part of WHO’s broader strategy under the Defeating Meningitis by 2030 Global Roadmap, which aims to eliminate bacterial meningitis epidemics, halve vaccine-preventable cases, reduce deaths by 70%, and improve post-illness care.
By equipping healthcare providers, policymakers, and communities with evidence-based practices, WHO hopes to close long-standing gaps in meningitis care and accelerate progress toward defeating the disease by 2030.