A Mobile Surveillance System for Cerebrospinal Meningitis Control in Remote Rural Areas
Abstract
Effective use of specific vaccines to control epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis requires early, precise etiologic diagnosis of cases. However, since the first cases often occur in areas remote from medical laboratories; etiologic diagnosis is seldom possible. A portable laboratory kit has been developed for rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases, including cerebrospinal meningitis, under field conditions, and the logistics of administering meningococcal vaccines have been simplified by using jet injectors, and stabilized meningococcal vaccines. A system employing these components for rapid diagnosis and vaccination was field-tested in Upper Volta with transport by a light plane. The 1979 cerebrospinal meningitis epidemic was found to be due mainly to Gr. C meningococci, but other etiologic agents were also identified. Thus. Gr. C vaccine was used, and therapy for other infections could be made consistent with rapid diagnostic test results. This rapid diagnosis and vaccination system may provide a suitable model for control of cerebrospinal meningitis epidemics in the rural areas of many countries. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA108992
Entities
People
- Martin Schlumberger
- Rene Triau
- Warren R. Sanborn
- Yada Adamou Alzouma
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center