Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area

New 'gamechanger' meningitis vaccine brings hope

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 25 May 2023 11:40
2 Min Read

Meningitis kills nearly 250,000 people a year, but this new vaccine could drastically curb that number.

  • x
  • New 'gamechanger' meningitis vaccine
    Children in subSaharan Africa getting meningitis vaccines in 2009. (AFP)

Meningitis kills roughly 250,000 people each year, but a meningitis vaccination that is both effective and economical has been successfully tested in Africa, in hopes that the disease's mortality rate will decrease drastically. 

The NmCV-5 vaccine, developed by the Serum Institute of India and the global health organization Path, would protect against the five primary meningococcal strains seen in Africa, including the developing X strain, for which no approved injectable is currently available.

Read more: WHO official says vaccines prevent up to 5M deaths a year

Mali and Gambia held trials for the vaccine in 2021 according to a New England Journal of Medicine paper. The researchers discovered that NmCV-5 elicited a powerful immune response against all five viruses.

Bacterial or viral infections inflame the membranes around the brain and spinal cord, resulting in meningitis. At least 60% of deaths related to meningitis around the world occur in Africa, mainly along the "meningitis belt" that runs from the Gambia and Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east.

Related News

Gaza doctor warns of deadly meningitis surge amid healthcare collapse

According to studies, those in Africa are twice as likely as those in high-income nations to have major chronic repercussions from the condition, due to variables such as late diagnosis and treatment.

Most African nations require tens of millions of doses of existing vaccines that protect against four forms of meningitis. Although the MenAfriVac vaccine, which was introduced in 2010, significantly reduced instances of meningococcal A, large-scale outbreaks associated to other strains are widespread throughout Africa.

The NmCV-5 gene therapy is expected to be accessible in the next months.

Co-author of the study, Ed Clarke, expressed excitement about the results, explaining that researchers "Expect NmCV-5 to provide children and young adults with reliable protection against meningitis caused by the meningococcal bacteria in Africa.”

Clarke added that it could be "game-changing for epidemic meningitis control in the meningitis belt."

"We look forward to seeing the vaccine rolled out in the region as soon as possible," he said.

By 2030, the World Health Organization hopes to cut vaccine-preventable meningitis by 50% and fatalities by 70%.

 

  • Meningitis
  • Fungal meningitis
  • Africa
  • Vaccines

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS