A new tool in the journey to defeat meningitis

“From a medical perspective, I don’t think there’s a scarier disease than bacterial meningitis. It strikes without warning; it progresses incredibly fast and can change your life in a matter of hours, or end it.”  

A stark warning from the World Health Organization’s Dr Lorenzo Pezzoli, Team Lead for Meningitis and Epidemic Bacterial Diseases. But the World Health Organization (WHO) have now equipped us with another tool to tackle this deadly disease. 

“A gamechanger”  

In April 2025, the WHO marked a critical milestone in the journey to defeat meningitis by 2030 when they published their guidelines on meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care. 

These are the first-ever WHO guidelines for meningitis. The guidelines have been developed to support healthcare professionals to deliver appropriate diagnosis, treatment and care for people with, or suspected to have, acute community-acquired meningitis.  

In the words of WHO’s Dr Pezzoli, “these guidelines are a gamechanger”.  

A tool for advocates 

As advocates, we hope that the launch of the guidelines will increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis, setting clearer pathways for medical professionals to diagnose and treat meningitis. 

The guidelines will also enable increased opportunities for support and care for people living with the aftereffects. 

The guidelines are also another tool to inform advocates, who may work directly with Ministries of Health or medical professionals to ensure that the guidelines are reaching those who will put them into practice.  


Healthcare centre in Nigeria, Daylin Paul 2024 

Guidelines alone are not enough 

“[The guidelines are] a brilliant idea but it shouldn’t stop there. I guess that we need to… operationalise these guidelines, which will go a long way to help us.” Dr. Joseph Oliver-Commey, focal point for meningitis clinical management at Ghana Health Service.   

The publication of the guidelines is a major step in itself. But we must not stop there.  

It is essential now that WHO, partners and governments focus on getting these guidelines into the hands of the medical professionals who will use them.  

Alongside guidance and policies, we need political prioritisation of meningitis. We must see sufficient funding within health systems to ensure that these recommendations have a real-life impact on people who face a meningitis diagnosis. 

It is by following through with action, commitment and funding that we will defeat meningitis.  

“I’m fully convinced that together we can and we will defeat meningitis.” Dr Jérôme Salomon, Assistant Director-General of WHO 

Read our quick-read to find out more about the guidelines and what they mean for defeating meningitis.

Find out more about meningitis in your country on the Meningitis Progress Tracker.