SYDNEY--14 Oct--Medianet International-Asianet/InfoQuest
The Confederation of Meningitis Organizations (CoMO) today issued a call to action to parents in Asia to immunise their children against pneumococcal disease, to reduce their children's risk of serious illness and preventable death.
The call to action comes on the eve of the 13th Asian Pacific Congress of Pediatrics to be held in China at the Shanghai International Convention Center, which aims to address health issues affecting children in Asia.
In Thailand alone, pneumococcal disease causes the hospitalization of up to 30 children in 100,000, under the age of five[4]. Pneumococcal disease can also cause pneumonia and meningitis, which are two of the most serious conditions a child can suffer from[5],[6].
Pneumococcal immunisation is critical in protecting children from pneumococcal disease, which refers to a range of illnesses caused by infection with the bacterium streptococcus pneumonia, also known as pneumococcus[7]. The vaccines that help protect against pneumococcal disease have been readily available and widely used globally for over nine years.
"We strongly encourage all parents to immunise their children, as infants are the main carriers of this life-threatening disease," said Mr Bruce Langoulant, CoMO President. "Immunising children against pneumococcal disease can therefore reduce the spread of bacteria to other children," he said.
Pneumococcal disease is picked up through close contact with infected carriers. Most people carry pneumococcal bacteria in their nose and throat. The bacteria are transferred to another person through droplets of saliva or mucus, such as when a carrier sneezes, coughs, shares toys or kisses someone[7].
Parents seeking more information about immunising against pneumococcal disease should speak to their doctor.
For further information or to arrange an interview with CoMO President, Mr
Bruce Langoulant, please contact:
Andrea Brady –
+64 212 545 324.
About CoMO:
The Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) was established in 2004 to be a global voice for the organisations and patient groups which continue to be formed to raise awareness about meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning) and to ensure support is available for those affected. CoMO is now comprised of
SOURCE: COMO – (Confederation of Meningitis Organisations)
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? Every year, over a million children, below the age of 5, die or are disabled by pneumonia and meningitis caused by pneumococcal infections[1][2]. ? Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus, is the number one vaccine-preventable killer of children worldwide. It can cause pneumonia and meningitis. It has also been responsible for the majority of influenza-related deaths during the influenza pandemic outbreaks that occurred in the U.S. in 1918, 1957 and 1968 ? Pediatricians strongly