The meringue can be eaten raw without cooking it first as long as the meringue is made with pasteurized eggs.
If the raw meringue is not made using pasteurized eggs then you could be at risk for salmonella if you eat the meringue raw.
So if the meringue is not made using pasteurized eggs you need to cook the meringue to avoid the risk of salmonella poisoning.
Salmonella will be killed when you cook the meringue including the eggs so I would not risk eating the meringue and getting possible salmonella poisoning.
Cook the meringue before eating it just to be safe.