Key facts

Transmission

Droplets of saliva/mucous pass from one person to another, mainly by kissing, coughing or sneezing, or by sharing eating and drinking utensils
Coughing or sneezing or close personal contact (infected droplets in the air are breathed in by another person)

Symptoms

Starts with sudden high fever and one of the following: neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, confusion, headaches or vomiting.
If treated early with antibiotics, in 90 per cent of cases death can be prevented.
Without treatment, it affects the nervous system and can cause death.
It may result in brain damage, hearing loss or learning disability in 10 – 20 per cent of survivors.

Prevention

Routine vaccination
Reduced overcrowding in shelters
Improved ventilation in shelters
Coughing etiquette (cough into sleeve, handkerchief or tissue, NOT the hand)
Handwashing with soap
Social mobilization and behaviour change communication

Vulnerable people

Infants, teens and young adults who are not vaccinated are most at risk.
Displaced populations, people living in cramped and crowded conditions, people who gather in large groups.
Individuals without a spleen or people living with HIV or other illnesses that weaken immunity

If an epidemic occurs

Rapidly detect and refer suspected cases to health facilities
Support a mass vaccination campaign
Promote handwashing with soap
Reduce overcrowding in shelters
Improve ventilation in shelters
Promote coughing etiquette (cough into sleeve, handkerchief or tissue, NOT the hand)
Increase social mobilization and behaviour change communication
Give antibiotics to close contacts of a person with meningitis (chemoprophylaxis)

Community-based assessment - questions

Make a map of the community and mark the information you gather on the map. Record other details.

When did people start to get sick with meningitis?
How many people have fallen sick with meningitis? Where?
How many people have died from meningitis? Where?
Who and where are the vulnerable people?
How many people at increased risk live in the affected community?
Are the people at increased risk vaccinated?
How many people live in the affected community or area? How many children under five years of age?
Are children under five most affected? Or are other age groups, occupations, etc., more affected?
How many close contacts do people with meningitis have? Where are they living? Are they showing symptoms of meningitis?
Are children in the affected community vaccinated for meningitis or not?
Is there a vaccination campaign planned?
Are there strong cultural beliefs or perceptions around vaccination which prevents children from being vaccinated?
Where are the local health facilities and services? (Include traditional or community carers.)
What are the community’s habits, practices and beliefs about caring for and feeding sick people in the community? When babies and infants are sick, do women continue to breastfeed them?
Is a social mobilization or health promotion programme in place?
Which sources or channels of information do people use most?
Are rumours or is misinformation about the disease spreading in the community?

Volunteer actions

25. Mass vaccination campaigns 24. Routine vaccinations 01. Community-based surveillance 02. Community mapping 03. Communicating with the community 04. Community referral to health facilities 05. Volunteer protection and safety 12. Managing fever 19. Psychosocial support 20. Isolating sick people 23. Chemoprophylaxis 26. Respiratory hygiene and coughing etiquette 27. Shelter and ventilation 28. Physical distancing 34. Handwashing with soap 43. Social mobilization and behaviour change