Meningitis Threat: Awareness campaigns demanded

About 500 cases of the meningococcal disease occur every year in the world, causing around 50,000 deaths: Novartis

KARACHI: About 500 cases of the meningococcal disease occur every year in the world, causing around 50,000 deaths, according to statement released by pharma giant Novartis on Thursday. It said that the meningococcal disease was a life-threatening illness that progressed rapidly and could lead to death within 24-48 hours of the first symptoms. The statement said that big pharmaceutical companies should spend their resources on awareness campaigns on disease prevention. The statement cited the example of the awareness campaign Novartis ran for the vaccination of Hajj and Umrah travellers. “The message conveyed by the (TV) model is to get vaccinated against meningitis, which is a requirement of the Saudi Ministry of Health and the government of Pakistan for Hajj and Umrah travellers,” it said. The statement said that most people travelling for Umrah, instead of getting vaccinated, made fake certificates by paying Rs200-Rs300, as they did not know the gravity of the meningococcal meningitis disease. PRESS RELEASE

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2011.