October 5, 2026
Meningitis is a devastating and debilitating infection that can affect anyone, anywhere, at any time. Every year people come together on World Meningitis Day to raise awareness and encourage global action to defeat this disease. There are more than 2.5 million cases of meningitis worldwide every year. It kills 1 in 10 people, and tragically, around half of meningitis deaths are children under 5 years. 1 in 5 survivors will live with life-long disabilities including hearing loss, brain damage, limb loss and epilepsy.