Confederation of Meningitis Organisations Launches Web Site

- COMOonline.org Offers Global Information, Resources -

The Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (COMO), a network of meningitis and children's health organisations throughout the world, today announced the launch of its Web site,

"The Confederation of Meningitis Organisations was founded for the sharing of best practices, information and research across borders," said Philip Kirby, Chief Executive of the Meningitis Trust and President of COMO. "The launch of our Web site will not only strengthen our existing COMO network, but

COMOonline.org features a snapshot of the "Establishing a Meningitis Organisation Tool Kit," a product of the COMO member organisations' shared experiences that will help facilitate the establishment of new organisations to help raise the global profile of meningitis. The complete Tool Kit provides case studies illustrating how different local organisations have been developed and poses important questions to consider when establishing a local group. The Web site also consists of: COMO member organisation

Established organisations or individuals who are committed to the elimination of meningitis and/or provide support to those affected by the disease are encouraged to apply for COMO membership through the site and request access to the complete Tool Kit, which is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian,Portuguese, German and Mandarin.

COMO was established at the first World Conference of Meningitis Organisations (WCMO) in

Initial support for the COMO Web site has been provided by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Note to Editors:

COMO

The Confederation of Meningitis Organisations' mission is to assist member organisations to be sustainable, identifiable and influential sources for information and support services for those people affected by meningitis in their regions and united in their endeavors globally through their membership

Meningitis and septicaemia

Meningitis can be caused by bacteria (e.g., Haemophilus influenzae type b,Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis), as well as viruses. Some bacteria that cause meningitis(inflammation of the lining of the brain) can also cause septicaemia (blood poisoning). Many people who have a meningococcal or a pneumococcal infection have both meningitis and septicaemia, although some have meningitis or septicaemia alone.

The early symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia include fever, vomiting, headache, cold hands and feet, rapid breathing, drowsiness, and stomach, joint or muscle pain. These symptoms may not all appear at once and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as a stiff neck and dislike of bright lights.

Patients suffering from meningococcal septicaemia often develop a non-lanching rash, called a haemorrhagic rash. Septicaemia can develop quickly and in severe cases, the rash may spread as you watch it. It is important to realise that a rash may not always occur, especially with pneumococcal septicaemia.

Both septicaemia and meningitis have high fatality rates.

Bacterial meningitis can be treated with a number of effective antibiotics, although some bacteria are developing resistance to these antibiotics. There also are several effective vaccines available to help protect infants, young children and adults against some causes of meningitis, such as S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae.

For further information please contact:

[email protected] for general questions and those related to membership

SOURCE Confederation of Meningitis Organisations

CONTACT:

Philip Kirby

Meningitis Trust, United Kingdom, President

+44-14-5376-9011

or Bruce Langoulant

Meningitis Centre, Australia, Vice President

+61-08-9489-7791

both of Confederation of Meningitis Organisations

Web site: http://www.COMOonline.org/

--Distributed by AsiaNet (www.asianetnews.net)--

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