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World Pneumonia Day commemorated on Nov. 12

The fourth annual World Pneumonia Day is being observed Nov. 12 to raise awareness about morbidity and mortality related to pneumonia, which is the leading cause of death in young children around the world.

More than 140 community-based organizations, academic institutions, government agencies, and foundations are hosting activities designed to promote interventions to prevent pneumonia. For countries to reach United Nations Millennium Development Goal 4 of reducing child mortality by two-thirds by 2015, interventions to prevent pneumonia deaths need to be implemented, according to CDC.

Introduction of vaccines to prevent pneumonia in developing countries has had unprecedented momentum over the past few years, and additional vaccine initiatives are planned for 2013. In addition, a study to identify the etiology of pneumonia in developing countries is expected to generate data that will better guide prevention and treatment strategies, according to CDC.