Advice and ways people can protect themselves from meningitis was shared through his social media by Athanasios Tsakris, a professor of microbiology at the EKPA School of Medicine, on the occasion of the death of the 54-year-old woman from Pyrgos from the virus and in view of the carnival events throughout the country.

Regarding the causes that have caused the exacerbation of the incidents, Athanasios Tsakris said it is one of the characteristics of the so called post-Covid period.

“But it also seems to be linked to the parallel increase in respiratory viral infections that also occurs in the years after the pandemic – and in the last few weeks in particular, due to seasonality,” the expert adds.

Regarding the relationship of meningitis with respiratory infections, the expert says that “given that its transmission is through the respiratory tract, a prerequisite for its manifestation is the colonization of the nasopharynx, to the epithelium of which meningococcus adheres.”

“Therefore, the integrity and good health of the mucus of our mouth have a crucial role in the defense of our organism. However, if a viral upper respiratory tract infection has preceded it, the epithelial structure may have been altered, as well as the epithelial barrier may have been disrupted, allowing microbes to enter the bloodstream. In this case, some microbes may cross the blood-brain barrier and cause meningitis,” adds Athanasios Tsakris.

Answering an important question that the public is asking with the outbreak of meningitis – how to protect oneself from it – the professor of microbiology stresses the following:

“We should bear in mind that a large proportion of meningitis carriers (25-30%) are asymptomatic, while the invasive form of the infection is extremely rare. Nevertheless, vaccination coverage and early diagnosis remain the critical parameters, both for the prevention of transmission and for the proper management of the disease.”

It is noted that the recent death of the 54-year-old woman from Pyrgos was caused by the same strain of meningitis that had infected the young student in Patras.

See the full post by Athanasios Tsakris:

“ABOUT MENINGITIS: Everything you need to know

1. What is the reason for the upsurge in meningitis cases?
The gradual increase in recent years is one of the characteristics of the so-called post-Covid period. But it also seems to be linked to the parallel increase in respiratory viral infections that also occurs in the years after the pandemic – and in the last few weeks in particular, due to seasonality.

2. What is the relationship between meningitis and respiratory infections?
Given that its transmission is via the respiratory tract, a prerequisite for its occurrence is colonization of the nasopharynx, to the epithelium of which meningococcus adheres. Therefore, the integrity and good health of the mucous membrane of our mouth plays a key role in our body’s defence. However, if a viral upper respiratory tract infection has preceded it, the structure of the epithelium may have been altered and the epithelial barrier may have broken down, allowing microbes to enter the bloodstream. In this case, some microbes may cross the blood-brain barrier and cause meningitis.

3. How can one protect oneself?
We should bear in mind that a large proportion of meningitis carriers (25-30%) are asymptomatic, while the invasive form of the infection is extremely rare. Nevertheless, vaccination coverage and early diagnosis remain the critical parameters, both for the prevention of transmission and for the proper management of the disease.”