WHO supports Mongolia’s response to bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease

As Mongolia continues to report cases of meningococcal disease, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD), is supporting a nationwide effort to strengthen frontline capacity for response. 

WHO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the NCCD, organized trainings on bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease for frontline healthcare workers across Mongolia from 23 to 30 April 2026. © WHO / Jargalan Tsogt

Meningitis is a life-threatening condition affecting the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial meningitis, and meningococcal disease in particular, are severe and associated with the highest risk of death, long-term complications, and disability.

Mongolia has historically experienced cyclical increases in meningococcal disease, and recent trends suggest that cases may continue to occur in the coming years, highlighting the need for sustained preparedness and stronger health system capacity for rapid diagnosis and timely clinical management.

As of April 2026, Mongolia has reported seven confirmed cases of invasive meningococcal disease, including three deaths. While the number of cases remains relatively low, the high case fatality rate, alongside the well-known epidemic potential in susceptible individuals, is a major concern. The disease can affect all ages but predominantly occurs in children and young adults.

During her remarks, WHO Representative to Mongolia Dr Socorro Escalante highlights the critical role of frontline health workers in saving lives and protecting communities beyond the hospital setting. © WHO / Jargalan Tsogt

“Meningococcal disease is a medical emergency, where the window for intervention is extremely narrow,” said Dr Socorro Escalante, WHO Representative to Mongolia. “Early recognition, immediate reporting, and timely management save lives and help protect the wider community from the spread of the disease. WHO is committed to support Mongolia to respond to the situation. We have mobilized expertise across the organization, especially from WHO Headquarters in Geneva, to roll-out and operationalize WHO evidence-based guidelines in the country.”

Dr Nicolò Binello, Technical Officer from WHO Headquarters, supports the delivery of training and dissemination of the latest WHO guidelines and toolkit on bacterial meningitis to frontline health workers in Mongolia. © WHO / Jargalan Tsogt

Strengthening frontline capacity

From 23 April to 30 April 2026, a series of trainings on bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease is being delivered to over 250 frontline health-care workers across the country, bringing together epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, emergency physicians, pediatricians, and intensive care doctors from provinces, districts, and referral hospitals.

“In recent years, meningitis cases and related deaths have increased in Mongolia, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen the capacity of frontline health workers in diagnosis, treatment and prevention,” said Dr Enkhbold, Director of the NCCD. “This training, organized in collaboration with WHO, is critical for introducing updated guidelines and improving how we manage meningitis, particularly among young children.”

Dr S. Enkhbold, Director General of the NCCD, emphasizes the importance of strengthening clinical capacity to prevent meningitis-related deaths. © WHO / Jargalan Tsogt

Dr Nicolò Binello, Technical Officer in the Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Management at WHO Headquarters, is deployed from Geneva to provide technical expertise on bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease, and to support the training of frontline healthcare workers.  

The training is based on the 2025 WHO guidelines on meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care, and thus provides an opportunity to pilot the newly released WHO guideline on bacterial meningitis preparedness and response. The guideline covers key aspects of disease control, including case definitions, early clinical recognition, laboratory diagnosis, antibiotic treatment, adjunctive and supportive care, post-exposure prophylaxis and prevention measures.

Importantly, the training aims to strengthen the integration between public health surveillance and clinical care, a critical element of effective outbreak preparedness and response.

“Accurate identification of suspected cases, timely laboratory confirmation, and prompt therapy are the cornerstones of meningococcal disease control,” he said. “At the same time, with the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, it is also essential to promote the appropriate and judicious use of antibiotics, both for treatment and for post-exposure prophylaxis.”

“To effectively prepare for and respond to bacterial meningitis outbreaks, clinicians and public health professionals should be provided with clear, evidence-based guidance that can be implemented on the ground,” he added. “Thanks to the strong collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the NCCD, and the WHO Country Office, we are able to disseminate the recent WHO guidelines on meningitis and use the new WHO toolkit for frontline healthcare workers, published earlier this week, as the foundation for developing practical training materials.”

Mongolia is the first country in the Western Pacific Region to conduct such a large-scale capacity-building effort on bacterial meningitis. “This marks a significant milestone for WHO’s global road map to defeat meningitis by 2030,” Dr Binello said. “We are confident that this initiative will pave the way for similar successful efforts across the Region and globally.”

Strong collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the NCCD, and WHO enables the dissemination of the latest WHO meningitis guidelines and the use of the newly released toolkit to support practical training for frontline health workers. © WHO / Jargalan Tsogt

Building a stronger health system

For participants, the training is directly beneficial in strengthening their capacity to recognize, diagnose, and manage meningitis cases and initiate the necessary referral in a timely manner.  

Participants highlight the importance of the training, considering that the last training was undertaken in 2012.  “I have been working as an infectious disease doctor for 16 years and have attended many trainings, but this was one of the most practical and impactful,” said Infectious diseases clinician Dr G. Lkhamaalkhagvii from Bayankhongor province. “The latest WHO guidelines provide clear, step-by-step approaches that we can directly apply in clinical settings. This training has helped clarify diagnosis and treatment pathways. It will improve the quality of care we provide, especially with better coordination across emergency, pediatric, and intensive care teams.”

Participants also emphasize the timeliness of the training amid recent cases.  “This training comes at a critical time, as cases continue to be reported,” said D. Enkhbaatar, Head of the Emergency and Rapid Response Department at the Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Uvurkhangai province. “One of the key strengths is its practical approach, combining frontal sessions with clinical scenario exercises After each session, we work through real-life cases, which helps reinforce what we learn and makes the training particularly effective.”

Healthcare workers from Arkhangai, Bayankhongor, Khuvsgul, Uvurkhangai, and Zavkhan provinces participate in the training in Arkhangai province. © Department of Health, Arkhangai province

WHO will continue to support the Ministry of Health and the NCCD in updating national guidelines on meningococcal disease as a part of the comprehensive response. This will ensure alignment with the latest WHO recommendations while adapting guidance to the Mongolian context.

WHO will continue to work with the government to strengthen frontline capacities to respond to public health emergencies and protect communities from infectious disease threats.