Shillong, May 18: Yugal Kishore Mohanta, Assistant Professor at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), has contributed to a major international research study published in The Lancet Neurology journal on meningitis.
The study, titled ‘Global, regional, and national burden of meningitis, its risk factors, and aetiologies, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023’, presents one of the most comprehensive assessments of meningitis trends worldwide over the last three decades, a USTM press release stated today. The research analyses the global, regional and national burden of meningitis from 1990 to 2023, examining its risk factors, mortality trends and various disease-causing aetiologies.
Mohanta’s contribution forms part of a large-scale collaborative effort involving leading scientists, researchers and institutions from across the globe under the framework of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study. The findings of the study highlight significant progress made in reducing meningitis-related mortality in several regions while also drawing attention to continuing challenges faced by low- and middle-income countries where meningitis remains a major public health concern.
“Meningitis continues to be a serious health challenge, especially among vulnerable populations. The study emphasises the urgent need for improved vaccination coverage, early diagnosis, timely treatment and stronger healthcare systems to effectively reduce the disease burden,” Mohanta said.
The research further underscores the critical role of socioeconomic conditions, healthcare accessibility, and public health interventions in influencing disease outcomes. The findings are expected to support policymakers, healthcare professionals and global health organisations in formulating targeted strategies for controlling and eventually eliminating meningitis as a public health threat.
