Bacterial Meningitis Cases Are Down

Cases of bacterial meningitis, a potentially fatal infection, have dropped by 31% over the last decade. A new study found that most of the drop was due to fewer cases of one type, pneumococcal meningitis. The drop was dramatic among children. There is a vaccine for this type of infection. Researchers said the drop in this type was probably due to vaccinations. The study also found that the death rate from meningitis stayed about the same. About 500 people die in the United States from meningitis each year. The study was published May 25 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Science News wrote about it May 25.