Latest news with #Meningitis
Al-Ahram Weekly
14-07-2025
- Health
- Al-Ahram Weekly
No evidence 4 siblings died of Meningitis in Minya: Health Ministry - Health
The Ministry of Health and Population affirmed in its statement on Sunday that claims about the simultaneous death of four siblings in Minya Governorate in Upper Egypt due to Meningitis disease are unfounded and scientifically unverified. On Saturday evening, several social media reports alleged that four children from the same family died of meningitis in Minya Governorate. According to those reports, the children arrived at a hospital showing symptoms including high fever, headache, neck stiffness, irritability, vomiting, and sensitivity. They died shortly after. Fears of a meningitis outbreak among children quickly spread on social media. The ministry clarified in its statement that meningitis is a disease caused by inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (the meninges). It can be caused by microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites), or by non-microbial causes such as tumors, medications, surgeries, or accidents. In response to these claims, the ministry stated that there is no medical evidence supporting the occurrence of simultaneous deaths in infectious diseases. It emphasised that non-infectious causes, such as food or chemical poisoning, must be excluded before confirming the cause of death. The ministry explained that in cases of household outbreaks, deaths typically occur within a few days, not simultaneously. It added that the body's response to infection varies depending on age, immunity, and viral load, making the simultaneous death of four siblings medically illogical. In this context, the ministry also noted that Egypt has successfully controlled the contagious bacterial type of meningitis since 1989, due to effective surveillance and preventive vaccination, with the incidence rate dropping to 0.02 cases per 100,000 people. It confirmed that no epidemic cases of bacterial types A and C have been recorded among school students since 2016 due to the strategic use of vaccinations. According to its statement, the ministry confirmed that it annually provides 6.5 million doses of the bivalent A and C vaccine for first-year students across all educational stages. It also offers 600,000 doses annually of the quadrivalent vaccine for travellers to high-risk countries or for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Additionally, the Haemophilus influenzae vaccine has been included in the national immunisation schedule at 2, 4, and 6 months of age since February 2014, alongside the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine for the prevention of tuberculous meningitis. The ministry said that its health surveillance system works on two levels. The first is daily monitoring from all hospitals, where cases are quickly diagnosed and treated, results are recorded electronically, and preventive medicine like Rifampicin is given to close contacts for 10 days. The second involves testing spinal fluid samples in 12 selected fever hospitals. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
13-07-2025
- Health
- Al-Ahram Weekly
No evidence of 4 siblings dying simultaneously of Meningitis in Egypt's Minya Governorate: Health Ministry - Health
The Ministry of Health and Population affirmed in its statement on Sunday that claims about the simultaneous death of four siblings in Minya Governorate in Upper Egypt due to Meningitis disease are unfounded and scientifically unverified. On Saturday evening, several social media reports alleged that four children from the same family died of meningitis in Minya Governorate. According to those reports, the children arrived at a hospital showing symptoms including high fever, headache, neck stiffness, irritability, vomiting, and sensitivity. They died shortly after. Fears of a meningitis outbreak among children quickly spread on social media. The ministry clarified in its statement that meningitis is a disease caused by inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (the meninges). It can be caused by microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites), or by non-microbial causes such as tumors, medications, surgeries, or accidents. In response to these claims, the ministry stated that there is no medical evidence supporting the occurrence of simultaneous deaths in infectious diseases. It emphasised that non-infectious causes, such as food or chemical poisoning, must be excluded before confirming the cause of death. The ministry explained that in cases of household outbreaks, deaths typically occur within a few days, not simultaneously. It added that the body's response to infection varies depending on age, immunity, and viral load, making the simultaneous death of four siblings medically illogical. In this context, the ministry also noted that Egypt has successfully controlled the contagious bacterial type of meningitis since 1989, due to effective surveillance and preventive vaccination, with the incidence rate dropping to 0.02 cases per 100,000 people. It confirmed that no epidemic cases of bacterial types A and C have been recorded among school students since 2016 due to the strategic use of vaccinations. According to its statement, the ministry confirmed that it annually provides 6.5 million doses of the bivalent A and C vaccine for first-year students across all educational stages. It also offers 600,000 doses annually of the quadrivalent vaccine for travellers to high-risk countries or for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Additionally, the Haemophilus influenzae vaccine has been included in the national immunisation schedule at 2, 4, and 6 months of age since February 2014, alongside the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine for the prevention of tuberculous meningitis. The ministry said that its health surveillance system works on two levels. The first is daily monitoring from all hospitals, where cases are quickly diagnosed and treated, results are recorded electronically, and preventive medicine like Rifampicin is given to close contacts for 10 days. The second involves testing spinal fluid samples in 12 selected fever hospitals. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Free Malaysia Today
12-07-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Emergency vaccines slash deaths by 60%
Vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, meningitis, and yellow fever are on the rise globally amid misinformation and cuts to international aid. (AP pic) GENEVA : Emergency vaccination during outbreaks of diseases like cholera, Ebola and measles have over the past quarter-century reduced deaths from such illnesses by nearly 60%, according to a new study. A similar number of infections are also believed to have been prevented, while billions of euros have been generated in estimated economic benefit. The Gavi vaccine alliance, which backed the study, said it collaborated with researchers at Burnet Institute in Australia to provide the world's first look at the historical impact of emergency immunisation efforts on public health and global health security. 'For the first time, we are able to comprehensively quantify the benefit, in human and economic terms, of deploying vaccines against outbreaks of some of the deadliest infectious diseases,' Gavi chief Sania Nishtar said in a statement. 'This study demonstrates clearly the power of vaccines as a cost-effective countermeasure to the increasing risk the world faces from outbreaks.' The study, published this week in the British Medical Journal Global Health, examined 210 outbreaks of five infectious diseases – cholera, Ebola, measles, meningitis and yellow fever – in 49 lower-income countries between 2000 and 2023. Vaccine roll-outs in these settings had a dramatic impact, with the study showing they reduced both the number of infections and deaths by almost 60% across the five diseases. For some of the diseases the effect was far more dramatic. Vaccination was shown to decrease deaths during yellow fever outbreaks by a full 99%, and 76% for Ebola. At the same time, emergency vaccination significantly reduced the threat of outbreaks expanding. It also estimated that the immunisation efforts carried out during the 210 outbreaks generated nearly US$32 billion in economic benefits just from averting deaths and years of life lost to disability. That amount was however likely to be a significant underestimate of overall savings, it said, pointing out that it did not take into account outbreak response costs or the social and macro-economic impacts of disruptions created by large outbreaks. The massive Ebola outbreak that hit West Africa in 2014, before the existence of approved vaccines, for instance saw cases pop up worldwide and is estimated to have cost the West African countries alone more than US$53 billion. The study comes after the World Health Organisation warned in April that outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, meningitis, and yellow fever are on the rise globally amid misinformation and cuts to international aid. Gavi, which helps vaccinate more than half the world's children against infectious diseases, is itself currently trying to secure a fresh round of funding in the face of the global aid cuts and after Washington last month announced it would stop backing the group.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aitana Bonmatí leaves hospital and is expected to rejoin Spain squad for Euro 2025
Spain's Aitana Bonmati controls the ball during the women's Nations League soccer match between Spain and England at the RCD Espanyol Stadium, in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort) MADRID (AP) — Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí left hospital on Sunday and is expected to rejoin the squad in the next few days to try to play in the Women's European Championship, the Spanish soccer federation said. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner was hospitalized after falling ill with a fever late Friday. She tested positive for meningitis. Advertisement 'After several days hospitalized with viral meningitis, Aitana Bonmatí has been discharged from the hospital and will join the Spanish national team in the coming days,' the federation said in its brief statement, without giving more detail about her condition. Bonmatí missed Friday's friendly win against Japan in Madrid and was not expected to travel with the rest squad to Switzerland on Sunday. It wasn't clear when she would travel. Spain's first game is against Portugal on Thursday in Bern. It will also face Belgium and Italy in Group B at Euro 2025. If Bonmatí's condition doesn't improve, coach Montse Tomé still has some time to replace her with another player ahead of the tournament. Advertisement Spain won the World Cup in 2023 for its first major women's trophy. It also won the inaugural edition of the Women's Nations League in 2024. It has never won the European Championship. The 27-year-old Bonmatí has won the top individual award for women's soccer for the past two years. The Barcelona player was key to Spain winning the 2023 Women's World Cup. Bonmatí's vision, dribbling skills, passing and goals have also been vital to Barcelona reaching five consecutive Champions League finals, with the Catalan club winning three titles. Her absence would put more pressure on Alexia Putellas, herself a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, and fellow Barcelona midfielder Patricia Guijarro to lead Spain in Switzerland. Advertisement Three years ago, Putellas tore her ACL three days before starting the 2022 European Championship. Spain was eliminated in the quarterfinals without its then-top player. Spain should still be favored in its opener against Portugal, a team it beat twice in April — including a 7-1 home victory — in the Nations League. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'I thought Tourette's was about swearing'
Yasmin Bartle was 20 when she was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. As part of Tourette's Awareness Month, she opened up about how a shopping trip led to a confrontation. As a child, Ms Bartle said she had "a few little quirks" including involuntary arm movements and making whistling noises. "There was a peak when I was probably around 10 or 11 and we were going through SATs [primary school exams]." Ms Bartle said the symptoms became less frequent until she contracted meningitis in 2019, an infection that affects the brain and spinal cord, according to the NHS. "We [the family] noticed these little things were becoming more frequent," she said. On one occasion, she said she was queuing in a shop and suddenly threw a bottle across the store. "I was so shocked because I didn't know where it had come from or what had just happened," she said. "My arm was always flying out to the side and I had a lot of head and neck tics and a few little noises." Ms Bartle was initially diagnosed with tics before being told she had Tourette Syndrome a year later. The 25-year-old from Hull said she was confused and "in denial." She said, like many people, she thought Tourette's was about swearing and she did not swear. "I was embarrassed and I hardly left my house," she said. On another occasion, Ms Bartle was in a grocery store and called out "alcoholic". She said another customer thought she was referring to them because they had a bottle in their hand and it escalated into an argument. She said: "I'm trying to say I have Tourette Syndrome. I'm really sorry and they didn't believe me." Ms Bartle said things began to improve for her when she said she was taken to a support group run by the TIC Yorkshire charity in Hull. "I realised, actually, there are a lot more people here that are a lot more like me and going through what I'm going through," she said. A year after being introduced to the charity, Ms Bartle became a volunteer. She said she wanted to challenge misconceptions about the condition. She said, when the charity tells people their child may be experiencing tics or Tourette's, parents feel relieved their child does not swear. Coprolalia, which, according to the NHS, is an involuntary use of obscene words or socially inappropriate remarks, is not the worst symptom, she added. Ms Bartle, who has written a book about the condition, said it was the mental tics, the compulsions and pain that most people with Tourette's would rather take away. She said it was important to research and understand the condition and urged those suffering to reach out for help. Tourette's Awareness Month takes place between 15 May and 15 June. This year's theme is being misunderstood due to public perceptions often shaped by stigma, jokes, and misinformation. According to the NHS, tics are fast, repetitive muscle movements that result in sudden and difficult to control body jolts or sounds. Tourette's Syndrome is a term that is used when tics have lasted for more than a year. According to the charity Tourette's Action, the condition affects one school child in every one hundred and is more common among boys. It says over 300,000 children and adults are living with the condition in the UK. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. 'I was commonly told I was faking my Tourette's' 'Ticket kiosk closure could trigger my Tourette's' NHS T.I.C. Yorkshire Tourette's Action BBC Action Line
