Bacterial meningitis and septicemia, global public health challenges, are notably prevalent in our region. These diseases, particularly affecting infants and young children, continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries have faced endemic and epidemic outbreaks of meningococcal disease, yet there’s a striking scarcity of published data in these regions. This gap hinders the formulation of evidence-based decisions crucial for implementing effective vaccine intervention strategies.
Recognizing this need, EMPHNET, in collaboration with Sanofi, has spearheaded the establishment of the Meningitis and Septicemia Mapping Network (MenMap). This regional network aims to strengthen the understanding and management of vaccine-preventable Invasive Bacterial Diseases (IBD), especially those caused by pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Operating across the Middle East, North Africa, and Eurasia, MenMap initiatives are multifaceted, encompassing research, surveillance, strengthening laboratory diagnosis capacities, and advancing public health policy to prevent, control, and treat bacterial meningitis and septicemia.
The initial phase of the MenMap project focuses on enhancing the epidemiological surveillance of IBDs by strengthening the link between epidemiological and laboratory data through the application of real-time PCR for accurate IBD detection and subtyping. This foundational step sets the stage for outcomes including determining serogroups of N. meningitidis in confirmed cases of Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD), estimating serogroup-specific IMD incidence, evaluating the impact of early antibiotic treatment, documenting clinical IMD presentations, and detailing outcomes of confirmed cases in each participating country.
A significant milestone in this initiative was hosting sessions by the Disease Control and Prevention Unit of EMPHNET in Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, titled “Bacterial Meningitis Surveillance and Data Management Training.” These sessions brought together physicians, public health officers, laboratory technicians, and infection control officers from targeted hospitals and the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL). Their objective was to enrich participants’ understanding of bacterial meningitis surveillance. They covered aspects ranging from case definition, clinical signs and symptoms, case enrollment, specimen collection, handling, preservation, transportation, and advanced laboratory detection techniques to epidemiology and surveillance.
This initiative exemplifies a comprehensive strategy to combat IBDs in the region. By uniting research, practical training, and policy development, MenMap is set to make significant strides in mitigating the impact of bacterial meningitis and enhancing public health outcomes in the region.
