Last week the UK’s Health Security Agency published its latest data on cases of invasive meningococcal disease, the severe, sometimes deadly, bacterial infection that can lead to meningitis and sepsis.
Covering 2023 and 2024, the release of this data marks a milestone in progress towards defeating meningitis in England (the area it reports on).
In the data, invasive meningococcal disease is grouped into its strains: MenB, MenC, MenW, MenY and MenZ, so we can see the trend over the latest epidemiological year (July 2023 – June 2024).
An opportunity to scrutinise progress
As the world’s leading international meningitis charity, whose roots remain in the UK, each release of this data gives us the opportunity to scrutinise progress in England (reporting is individual for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, making piecing together true progress across the UK a challenge).
For every individual and family in England whose life has been irrevocably changed by meningitis, this data will bring hope, with cases of MenC at an all-time low. Alongside this, MenA, W and Y also remain low.
This highlights the success of the introduction of the infant MenC vaccine in 1999 and the importance of the teenage MenACWY vaccination programme in keeping the circulation of these bacteria at minimal levels, a public health triumph which cannot be understated.
However, while the success in addressing groups A, C, W and Y should be celebrated, the trends in MenB cases highlight why the UK must continue to be a global leader in innovative approaches to prevent meningitis.
MenC vaccination: a public health achievement
The sustained decline in MenC cases across the UK is a testament to the power of vaccination - a success story we should all celebrate.
Every parent and caregiver who has ensured their child received the MenC and MenACWY vaccine has contributed to this significant public health achievement.
We are proud to have played our role in supporting the rollout, and widespread uptake, of both these vaccines since the introduction of MenC in 1999. Whether through awareness-raising of meningitis or the individual support we deliver to families and caregivers across the UK every day, we aim to ensure everyone can make informed decisions to protect those they love.
This success also shows the UK continues to lead the way in preventing meningitis, with innovative vaccination programmes, cutting-edge research, and improvements in diagnosis, treatment and care.
Inclusion of MenC in the NHS’ free, routine immunisation schedule, for babies (at one year old) and for teens (in England in school years 9 or 10, as part of their MenACWY vaccine), ensures maximum protection.
We hope the UK continues to ensure case of MenC remain low.
To achieve this, high uptake of the MenACWY vaccine must remain a public health priority, with its twin benefits of directly protecting teenagers and giving indirect protection for all other ages too.
MenB: we need action to save lives
Whilst MenC is an undoubted success story, MenB continues to cause the highest number of cases and deaths of invasive meningococcal disease in the UK.
It is concerning to see in this latest data that cases of MenB among children aged one to four has risen. This coincides with a decline in uptake of the MenB infant vaccine, which all children can receive at 8 and 16 weeks and one year through their GP or baby clinic.
We urge parents and caregivers to check their baby has received this vital protection and to speak to their GP practice if they are unsure (and if you have more questions our Support Services team are also here).
This latest data shows that most MenB cases continue in the teenage age groups, where currently no vaccine is routinely provided to those born before 2015.
This is an issue we are monitoring, alongside providing support to families who have tragically lost their children and funding new scientific research into MenB (such as on how it is carried and spread amongst university students).
For now, we’d urge all those with a teen or young adult in their life to do three things:
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Take up all your free, routine NHS vaccinations to get the maximum meningitis protection that is currently available in the UK.
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Know that, whilst your child can have had the vaccine that protects against MenA, C, W and Y, it is highly unlikely they will have had the one that protects against MenB if they were born before May 2015.
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That’s why it’s also vital to know the meningitis symptoms, so you can take lifesaving action. Minutes matter with meningitis. If you suspect someone has meningitis, get urgent medical help fast.
Every case of meningitis is one too many
For Meningitis Research Foundation, every case of meningitis is one too many. Behind each case number is a person or family whose life has been profoundly affected, sometimes with devastating consequences (to understand this, we’d urge everyone to read an account from ‘Meningitis in your words’, our digital collection which is growing into the world’s largest repository of meningitis experiences).
We remain committed to working alongside the UK and global partners to defeat meningitis in all its forms.
Whilst this data marks a milestone, we know there is still a long way to go.
Brian Davies, Head of Health Policy and Insights
More information:
Get protected: Which meningitis vaccine and when (infographic)
Stay vigilant: Signs and symptoms of meningitis