Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Int J Infect Dis. 2012 Aug;16(8):e574-82. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2012.03.011. Epub 2012 May 29.
This paper reviews the epidemiological data describing meningococcal disease in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). While meningococcal disease remains an important cause of endemic and epidemic disease in many MENA countries, existing published epidemiological data appear limited, fragmented, and collected via disparate methodologies. Children aged 5 years and younger are predominantly affected, though outbreaks of the disease often affect older age groups. Whilst serogroup A remains a main cause of meningococcal disease in the region, cases of serogroup B, W-135, and Y have been increasingly reported over the last two decades in some countries. The Hajj pilgrimage is a key factor influencing outbreaks and transmission, and the use of vaccines has minimized the effects on the home countries of the pilgrims and has decreased global dissemination of disease. Wider use of available polyvalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines may provide broader protection against the range of serogroups causing disease or posing a threat in the region. In addition, strengthening regional surveillance systems and regularly publishing reports with reliable estimates of disease incidence, carriage, disease-related mortality, and sequelae may facilitate the development of appropriate interventions and public health strategies regarding meningococcal disease within the region.
本文综述了描述中东和北非（MENA）地区脑膜炎球菌病的流行病学数据。虽然脑膜炎球菌病仍然是许多 MENA 国家中地方性和流行性疾病的重要原因，但现有的已发表的流行病学数据似乎有限、分散，并且使用了不同的方法收集。5 岁及以下儿童受影响最为严重，但该疾病的暴发通常会影响年龄较大的人群。虽然 A 群仍然是该地区脑膜炎球菌病的主要原因，但在过去二十年中，一些国家报告了越来越多的 B、W-135 和 Y 群病例。朝觐是影响暴发和传播的关键因素，疫苗的使用最大限度地减少了对朝圣者原籍国的影响，并降低了疾病在全球的传播。更广泛地使用现有的多价脑膜炎球菌结合疫苗可能会提供更广泛的保护，以预防该地区引起疾病或构成威胁的各种血清群。此外，加强区域监测系统，并定期发布可靠估计发病率、带菌率、与疾病相关的死亡率和后遗症的报告，可能有助于制定针对该地区脑膜炎球菌病的适当干预措施和公共卫生策略。
