First Annual World Meningitis Day Gaining National Support

World Meningitis Day is April 25, 2009

BALTIMORE, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The first annual World Meningitis Day
begins April 25, 2009 and is gaining national support. The day is meant to
raise awareness and educate Americans about the dangers of contracting the
Meningococcal disease. "We recognize the dangers of meningitis and the
importance of being vaccinated against the disease," said Fran Lessans, CEO of
Passport Health, the largest provider of travel medical services and
immunizations in the U.S. "Passport Health wants to honor this day and show
its support by offering to vaccinate and educate Americans about the disease."

Travel season is quickly approaching and travelers should be aware that many
popular travel destinations are in countries where meningitis is endemic.
International travel and migration facilitate the rapid intercontinental
spread of meningococcal disease, according to The Journal of Travel Medicine.
"The disease is endemic in the meningococcal belt which runs through
sub-Saharan Africa," added Lessans. "This area stretches from Senegal to
Ethiopia across the middle of the continent."

The meningitis vaccine is especially recommended, if not required, for the
following people: students attending college/universities, students studying
abroad, travelers, camp attendees, humanitarian workers, missionary workers,
and volunteer abroad workers.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is an estimated total
population of 300 million people living in along this belt. You can find more
information related to the meningococcal belt in Passport Health's "country of
the month" blog. In honor of Meningitis Day, the daily blog will focus on
meningitis and how it can affect travelers.

Meningitis is a serious disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
approximately 20% of those infected have long term consequences and between
10%-12% die from the disease each year. The United States has nearly 3,000
cases of the disease every year. The disease is transferred through
respiratory secretions and the spread of the disease is facilitated through
prolonged contact. Be aware that meningitis can be contracted by people of all
ages, not just college-bound students.

For more information about meningitis or Passport Health, visit
http://passporthealthusa.com/vaccines/home.Meningococcal.html or call
1-888-499-PASS(7277) to make an appointment.

Jorge Eduardo Castillo
410-727-0556
jorge.castillo@passporthealthusa.com

SOURCE Passport Health

Jorge Eduardo Castillo of Passport Health, +1-410-727-0556,
jorge.castillo@passporthealthusa.com