We came across a post on X by a U.K. columnist Jacqui Deevoy claiming that meningitis is not contagious and suggesting that it is a side effect of vaccines. The post offers no medical evidence or authoritative source to back it up.

The post has drawn significant attention, with over 300,000 views. It also appears at a time when the UK is experiencing a deadly meningitis outbreak linked to a nightclub in Canterbury, southeastern England. The outbreak has left two students dead, while several others are seriously ill in hospital. Against that backdrop, the claims warranted a closer look.

Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can be triggered by a range of causes such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, or even non-infectious conditions such as certain autoimmune diseases or cancer. Common symptoms include a sudden fever, severe headache, nausea, sensitivity to light, and in some cases, seizures. As it can become life-threatening, meningitis often requires prompt treatment with antibiotics, and without timely care it can be fatal.

Singapore has a low incidence of meningococcal disease, with the Communicable Disease Agency (CDA) noting that most cases occur in children under five years old. Even so, it is treated as a serious public health concern. Under Singapore’s Infectious Diseases Act, meningococcal disease is legally notifiable, meaning doctors and laboratories must report any suspected or confirmed case to the Ministry of Health within 24 hours.

Is meningitis contagious?

Some forms of meningitis are not contagious. Fungal meningitis, which mainly affects immunocompromised individuals, does not spread from person to person. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC), infection usually occurs when people inhale fungal spores from the environment, most commonly from soil, bird droppings, or decaying wood. In some cases, the infection can then spread through the bloodstream to the brain.

The same is true of parasitic meningitis, as the parasites involved usually infect animals rather than humans. People typically become infected by eating contaminated food or infected slugs or snails. Non-infectious meningitis, which can be triggered by autoimmune diseases, cancer, certain drugs, or head injuries, also does not spread between people.

However, these represent a small minority of cases. Presenting their non-contagious nature as if it applies to meningitis as a whole is where the claim falls apart.

Which types of meningitis are contagious?

Bacterial and viral meningitis, the most common and most clinically serious forms of the disease, can and do spread from person to person.

Viral meningitis, the most common form of meningitis globally, is generally contagious. The Meningitis Research Foundation notes that enteroviruses account for more than 90% of all viral meningitis cases, spreading primarily through faecal-oral contamination and, less commonly, through respiratory secretions.

According to the World Health Organisation’s meningitis fact sheet, updated in April 2025, most of the bacteria that cause the disease are carried in the human nose and throat and spread through respiratory droplets or throat secretions.

Bacterial meningitis is also one of the most time-critical medical emergencies. A 2025 report by infectious disease specialists at the University of Rennes in France, found that without treatment, it can kill a healthy person within 24 hours. Even with treatment, more than 10% of patients die. Singapore’s NCID notes that 10 to 15% of survivors are left with lasting neurological damage, including hearing loss, speech disorders, and paralysis.

Meningitis and vaccines

Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to prevent certain dangerous forms of bacterial meningitis, including meningococcal disease.

Although meningococcal vaccines do not contain live bacteria and cannot cause meningitis, rare cases of meningitis or encephalitis have been reported in people after they received some other live attenuated vaccines, such as certain varicella- or mumps-containing vaccines. For example, the varicella vaccine virus can persist in the body and later reactivate as shingles, which has very rarely been linked to viral meningitis.

Experts say such events are extremely uncommon and that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. In Singapore, meningococcal vaccination is also required for pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj,underscoring its importance as a preventive measure.

Hence, we rate the post claiming that meningitis is “not contagious” and a side effect of vaccines as false. It makes sweeping claims that are both inaccurate and misleading. Such claims can be dangerous as they may cause people to overlook early symptoms in a family member, delay seeking urgent medical care, or discourage caregivers from vaccinating children in line with health authorities’ recommendations. With a disease where early treatment is critical, inaccurate claims can have serious consequences.

Who is making this claim, and why does it matter?

The claim was posted by British writer Jacqui Deevoy, who has repeatedly published health misinformation on X and Substack, including describing COVID-19 as a “faux pandemic” and referring to vaccines as “experimental injections”.

Her post reflects a misleading rhetorical tactic often seen in health misinformation, taking a narrow truth (that some forms of meningitis are not contagious) and wrongly presenting it as if it applies to all cases. In situations like this, it is best to rely on credible medical evidence and guidance from health authorities.