EMPHNET and partners' second-year findings highlight improvements in laboratory capacity and priorities for strengthening meningitis prevention and control

Bacterial meningitis remains a serious global health threat, with approximately one in six people affected dying and one in five survivors experiencing severe complications, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

A new study published in IJID Regions by researchers from the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) and partner institutions has identified Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) as the leading cause of laboratory-confirmed bacterial meningitis among children participating in surveillance across Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq.

The study presents findings from the second year of the Meningitis and Septicemia Mapping Network (MenMap), a regional initiative involving EMPHNET, national health authorities, and international partners to strengthen meningitis surveillance and laboratory testing.

Between December 2024 and November 2025, 1,881 suspected cases were recorded among children aged one month to 18 years across 15 participating hospitals. Of these, 123 cases (6.5%) were laboratory-confirmed, with pneumococcus responsible for 87% of confirmed cases. Children aged 6–14 years accounted for the largest share of confirmed cases (39.8%), followed by infants younger than one year (30.1%).

MenMap: Strengthening Regional Surveillance

Through MenMap, EMPHNET collaborates with ministries of health, hospitals, laboratories, and international partners to improve the detection and monitoring of bacterial meningitis in Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq.

During the 2025 external quality assessment, conducted in collaboration with Institut Pasteur, participating laboratories achieved 100% accuracy in identifying the bacterial species included in the assessment. 

"MenMap demonstrates the value of regional collaboration in strengthening public health systems. By bringing countries together around standardized surveillance and reliable laboratory diagnostics, we are building a stronger evidence base to understand bacterial meningitis and guide prevention efforts. Beyond the findings of any single year, the importance of MenMap lies in its ability to support more informed decisions, strengthen national capacities, and contribute to sustainable meningitis prevention and control across the region.” - Dr. Magid Al-Gunaid, Deputy Executive Director, EMPHNET

Turning Findings into Public Health Action

Despite improvements in laboratory performance, the study identified persistent gaps in vaccination records and patient follow-up.

The researchers recommend improving the documentation of vaccination histories and patient outcomes, strengthening coordination between disease surveillance and immunization programs, and using surveillance findings to inform pneumococcal vaccination strategies.

These priorities align with the World Health Organization's Defeating Meningitis by 2030 Global Roadmap and underscore the importance of sustained surveillance and regional collaboration in strengthening meningitis prevention and control.

The study was published in IJID Regions with support from Sanofi.

Read the full study: https://bit.ly/4y3HwS6