How can someone protect themselves from viral meningitis?

• A. Direct contact with saliva, sputum, or mucous of an infected person; wash hands well. Mosquitoes can carry some virus.
• B. Avoiding crowds and social activities
• C. Vaccination only
• D. Taking daily antibiotics

Answer: (A)

Preventing viral meningitis mainly comes down to interrupting how the virus spreads. Good hand hygiene and avoiding direct contact with the secretions of someone who is infected are key ways to reduce transmission, since many viruses that cause meningitis spread through respiratory droplets or contaminated saliva and mucus. The note that some viruses are carried by mosquitoes also highlights the role of vectors for certain meningitis-causing viruses, so taking precautions against bites—when in areas where those viruses are present—adds protection.

Other options don’t provide reliable, comprehensive prevention. Avoiding crowds and social activities isn’t a practical or sufficient measure for viral meningitis. Vaccination helps for certain viruses but isn’t universal for all meningitis-causing viruses. Daily antibiotics won’t prevent viral infections, since antibiotics act only on bacteria, not viruses.