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RESEARCH PAPER
Meningitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2024
 
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Zakład Epidemiologii Chorób Zakaźnych i Nadzoru, Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy
 
 
Submission date: 2026-01-29
 
 
Final revision date: 2026-07-08
 
 
Acceptance date: 2026-08-04
 
 
Online publication date: 2026-08-11
 
 
Corresponding author
Jakub Maciej Zbrzeźniak   

Zakład Epidemiologii Chorób Zakaźnych i Nadzoru, Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy
 
 
 
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Background: Neuroinfections, including meningitis and/or encephalitis, are subject to statutory epidemiological surveillance in Poland. This report presents the epidemiological situation of neuroinfections in 2024. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the epidemiological occurrence of meningitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2024. Material and methods: The analysis of the epidemiological situation of neuroinfections in Poland was based on data submitted to the National Institute of Public Health NIH – National Research Institute (NIPH NIH–NRI) by the Voivodeship Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations and published in the annual reports Infectious Diseases and Poisonings in Poland in 2024 and Protective Vaccinations in Poland in 2024. Results: In 2024, a total of 3 085 cases of meningitis and/or encephalitis were registered in Poland, representing a 12.1% increase compared to 2023 (2 753 cases) and a 37.2% increase compared to 2019. Bacterial meningitis and/or encephalitis (including neuroborreliosis) accounted for 37.4% of all cases (1 154 cases) and were slightly less frequent than in 2023; the incidence decreased from 3.14 to 3.07/100,000. There has been an increase in the incidence of meningitis and/or encephalitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, with a simultaneous decrease in the number of cases of neuroborreliosis. Viral infections accounted for 62.6% of all cases (1 931 cases), an increase of 23.1% compared to 2023 (1 569 cases). In this group, 946 cases (49%) were classified as viral encephalitis (784 cases in 2023), with tick-borne encephalitis predominating (803 cases; 661 cases in 2023). Conclusions: In 2024, an increase in the number of registered cases of meningitis and/or encephalitis was recorded in Poland compared to 2023, and the incidence rate also exceeded the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. Viral infections dominated, with a clear predominance of tick-borne encephalitis diagnoses. Bacterial infections (including neuroborreliosis) remained at a level similar to the previous year, with a decrease in the number of neuroborreliosis cases and a higher number of cases caused by N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, and S. pneumoniae. Changes in the epidemiological situation in 2024 were mainly related to an increase in the number of viral cases.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The work was carried out as part of task No. S.1.BE.1.26
eISSN:2545-1898
ISSN:0033-2100
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