Médico Express explains why meningitis remains a health challenge

• Neurologist Sally Marte Arias, of Médico Express, warns that meningitis appears suddenly and advances within hours, and that its first symptoms are mistaken for flu.

Santo Domingo. Despite medical advances and access to information, meningitis remains a threat, because it appears suddenly and advances very fast.

So explains Sally Marte Arias, neurologist and epilepsy specialist at Médico Express. “A person can appear to be fine and, within a few hours, develop a high fever, headache, a stiff neck, seizures or altered consciousness,” she says.

“That speed has a huge impact on families, even in settings with access to medical information,” she adds.

What makes meningitis even more dangerous is that its early symptoms can be mistaken for those of common flu or a viral infection. 

“That is especially critical in young children, who may show non-specific signs such as irritability, vomiting or refusing to feed,” says the specialist.

Despite the information available online and health campaigns, not all families have the same access to reliable sources or to timely health services. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that bacterial meningitis still causes approximately 236,000 deaths a year worldwide, and leaves 1 in 5 survivors with permanent after-effects, such as deafness, neurological disability or amputations.

Why are there still deaths if vaccines exist?

Vaccines have been one of the most effective tools for reducing cases of meningitis, but “not every country reaches optimal coverage, and not every bacterium is covered,” the doctor warns. 

In 2025, more than half of all countries have introduced vaccines against bacteria such as pneumococcus, meningococcus and Haemophilus influenzae type b, the main causes of meningitis. The situation, however, remains complex.

In the Dominican Republic, approximately 5% of children do not complete their recommended vaccination schedule, which creates room for outbreaks and serious cases, according to Unicef data. 

What is more, “not every form of meningitis can be prevented with the vaccines available; there are viruses, fungi and bacteria that are not covered and can also cause the disease,” the expert points out.

An important step forward in the country has been the introduction of the acellular hexavalent vaccine in April 2025. This vaccine protects against six diseases, among them Haemophilus influenzae type b, a classic agent of meningitis in children. 

Some 100,000 Dominican children are expected to be vaccinated this year, which represents a major step, although, as Marte explains, there is still ground to cover to close the gaps in vaccination coverage.

The current situation in the DR

In the Dominican Republic, the latest data show that most cases of meningitis affect children under five, accounting for more than 70% of cases, according to a study carried out in 2021. 

In 2020, the WHO estimated 134 deaths from meningitis in the country, equivalent to a rate of 1.21 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

With the introduction of the hexavalent vaccine and the public health campaigns promoting wider vaccination coverage, “a gradual reduction in cases is expected,” the neurologist explains.

Even so, it is necessary to keep strengthening epidemiological surveillance and community education to ensure that every child is protected.

Global progress 

Globally, the WHO has taken an important step in the fight against meningitis. In April 2025, the organisation launched for the first time global guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and care of meningitis. 

These guidelines include faster protocols for confirming diagnosis, adaptations in clinical management according to the type of health facility and follow-up strategies to avoid after-effects in survivors.

These initiatives are part of the global roadmap “Defeating Meningitis by 2030”, which has objectives such as:

• Eliminating epidemics of bacterial meningitis.
• Reducing vaccine-preventable cases by 50%.
• Cutting associated deaths by 70%.

How can you protect yourself?

Dr Marte offers a series of recommendations for Dominican families seeking to protect themselves from meningitis:

Complete the vaccination schedules. Starting the vaccination process is not enough; it is essential to complete every recommended dose.

Recognise the warning symptoms. A sudden fever, an intense headache, vomiting, a stiff neck and excessive drowsiness are signs that should not be ignored.

Seek immediate medical attention. “Every hour counts. Timely treatment saves lives and prevents after-effects,” she stresses.

Follow the public health campaigns. New vaccines, such as the hexavalent, are key to protecting children and should be part of the preventive strategy.