Confederation of Meningitis Organisations Launches Web Site

Confederation of Meningitis Organisations Launches Web Site

February 22, 2006

-- COMOonline.org Offers Global Information, Resources

    GLOUCESTERSHIRE, England, Feb. 22 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
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, http://www.COMOonline.org .  The site provides
information on COMO and its local member groups and support
services, as well as resources for those interested in
founding their own local organisations to fight against
meningitis.

    "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 expand and inspire
additional efforts to combat meningitis both locally and
globally."

    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 profiles;
information on upcoming events, activities and programmes;
and personal stories from people around the world who have
been impacted by meningitis.

    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 September 2004 and
currently is comprised of 14 organisations from 13
countries around the world.  For more information, visit
http://www.COMOonline.org .

    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 of COMO, which is committed to the
elimination of meningitis and septicaemia.  The founding
members include leaders from meningitis and children's
health organisations from around the world, including
Association Audrey (France), Fundacion Illyria Velasco
Carranza (Mexico), GAVI - PneumoADIP (USA), Meningitis
Centre (Australia), Meningitis Foundation of America (USA),
Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada (Canada),
Meningitis Research Foundation (UK and Ireland), Meningitis
Trust (Ireland), Meningitis Trust (New Zealand), Meningitis
Trust (UK), Moige (Italy), Philippine Foundation for
Vaccination (Philippines), Pneumo-Mening (Brazil) and
Pneumo-Mening Centre (Taiwan).

    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-blanching 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:
[e-mail] for general questions and those related
to membership 

    For more information, please contact:

     Philip Kirby
     Meningitis Trust, United Kingdom, President
     Tel: [phone]

     Bruce Langoulant
     Meningitis Centre, Australia, Vice President    
     Tel: [phone]
 
SOURCE  Confederation of Meningitis Organisations