global-health-burden
Global health burden refers to the worldwide impact of diseases and nutritional deficiencies on human populations, measured by factors like mortality, morbidity, and disability. Plant science plays a critical role in addressing this burden, as crops are the primary source of calories, micronutrients, and medicinal compounds for billions of people. Research into plant nutrition, disease resistance, and biofortification directly informs strategies to reduce hunger, malnutrition, and plant-derived illness on a global scale.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-05-01
A global analysis found that meningitis killed 259,000 people in 2023 and caused 2.54 million new cases, with children under 5 bearing a disproportionate burden. Despite decades of progress through vaccination, the disease remains far off-track to meet WHO 2030 reduction targets.
In 2023, meningitis caused 259,000 deaths and 2.54 million new cases globally, with children under 5 accounting for over a third of deaths (86,600).
The four vaccine-preventable pathogens (S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, Group B streptococcus) caused roughly 98,700 deaths — about 38% of the total.
Drug-resistant fungi such as Candida spp. are emerging as significant meningitis pathogens, even as bacterial meningitis has declined due to vaccination campaigns since 1990.