Chapter 244 Prevention and Control Strategies and Vaccine Development

"Oh, this is troublesome."

Dean Lu said with an unpleasant look on his face.

If someone else had said that, he would still have held out a glimmer of hope, thinking it might have been a misdiagnosis, but since Wang Mengde had confirmed it, that glimmer of hope in his heart was gone.

No wonder he had such a big reaction.

This era, and in the decades to come.

Some of the more popular insults include: "You have sequelae of meningitis."

Meningitis is epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, also known as meningitis.

Therefore, everyone's face turned extremely ugly.

In the conference room of Guang'anmen Hospital, everyone, including a dozen leaders from the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, gathered together.

"Comrades, I just spoke to my superiors on the phone.

After reporting the discovery of the meningococcal epidemic, our superiors instructed us to do a good job in treating the patients while also taking care to prevent the spread of the disease in the hospital.

In addition, for diseases like meningococcal meningitis, the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine should shoulder the heavy responsibility of researching effective drugs and summarizing prevention and treatment experience.”

Dean Lu spoke first.

Just now, after hearing about the discovery of a case of meningococcal meningitis, the superior leader gave decisive instructions.

"Director, this matter cannot be delayed. The comrades who went to the health and epidemic prevention station just now have already hurried back. They will conduct an investigation in the neighborhood where the epidemic was discovered.

They have their own process in this regard and we can't help much.

We also need to advise our superiors to prepare medicinal materials and prevention materials in advance, and most importantly.

That is to notify all major hospitals in advance so that they can be vigilant and take immediate and decisive prevention and control measures if any suspected cases are found.

Otherwise, if it gets delayed and spreads in hospitals, the impact will be huge.”

Vice President Zhu followed up with a suggestion.

"Well, this is a very good suggestion. I will report it to my superiors immediately after the meeting."

Dean Lu nodded in agreement, then he looked at the rest of the people and said:

"By the way, everyone can speak freely. If you have any good suggestions and ideas, please share them."

"Dean, I suggest..."

"Dean, I think this is okay..."

All those present here are leaders of the Chinese Medical Research Institute and are also famous Chinese medicine experts. They have a deep understanding of the characteristics and infectiousness of meningococcal disease.

Therefore, everyone put forward a lot of good suggestions and ideas based on the specific situation.

Seeing everyone working together, Dean Lu's complexion improved a lot.

Seeing that everyone had said almost everything, he turned to Wang Mengde, who was sitting at the end, and said:
"Comrade Wang Mengde, everyone has said a lot just now, it's your turn now."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone stared at Wang Mengde with anticipation, wanting to see if this amazing young man had any good ideas.

In the past, this young man has turned the tide many times.

"Dean, I have three immature suggestions."

Wang Mengde stopped writing, turned to look at Dean Lu, and said loudly:
"The first suggestion is to set up a special group to study the treatment of meningococcal meningitis. Relevant groups have been set up in previous outbreaks.

But previously, it was only established when the epidemic broke out seriously. This time, it can be established in advance, so as to work out a solution as soon as possible.”

“The second suggestion is to work with the Children’s Hospital and other well-known Chinese and Western medicine hospitals, as well as the health and epidemic prevention stations in Beijing, to compile a manual on the prevention and treatment of meningococcal meningitis.

If there is spare capacity, it would be best to compile a compilation of experiences in preventing meningitis.

In this way, there are two manuals, one for medical staff and one for the general public."

In fact, this suggestion is also based on the experience summarized by the country in infectious disease prevention and control in the next few decades, combined with the actual situation of this era.

"This is good. It not only allows medical staff to understand the prevention and treatment methods, but also allows the people to participate."

Vice President Zhang couldn't help but praise after hearing this.

In this era, getting the masses involved and using human wave tactics are deeply rooted in everyone's mind.

Wang Mengde's suggestion naturally touched the heart of everyone present.

“Yes, you can give this a try.”

"Well, I think this method will also work wonders."

Others also spoke at once.

"Very good, Comrade Wang Mengde, both of your suggestions are very useful. Please tell me about the third suggestion."

Dean Lu saw that everyone wanted to continue the discussion, so he interrupted them and urged them on.

"Dean, my third suggestion is to combine 'prevention' and 'treatment'.

I will not talk about treatment at the meeting, but I think we can do something about prevention.

Currently, there is no ability to detect outbreaks of meningococcal disease in advance, either in China or internationally. We can only know about it when patients show symptoms.

All we can do is take measures such as daily hygiene or isolation, and at most take preventive medication in advance.

But these methods are all passive defenses. I think we need to step up the research and development of meningococcal vaccines to achieve active defense."

Wang Mengde said directly.

Judging from later experience, the elimination of most infectious diseases is inseparable from the use of vaccines, and some diseases even rely entirely on the effectiveness of vaccines.

"Comrade Wang Mengde, I also thought of vaccines at the beginning, but now distant water cannot quench immediate thirst, and vaccine development cannot be successful overnight.

By the time the vaccine is successfully developed, the epidemic of meningococcal meningitis may have passed.”

Next to him, Vice President Shi explained.

Not only him, but several other people also nodded in agreement.

They all thought of vaccines first, but after thinking about it carefully, they found that no research institute in the country was developing such a vaccine.

So they all gave up the idea.

After all, the meningococcal epidemic may be over in a few months.

Maybe, the research on vaccines will just be beginning at that time.

Obviously, they did not expect that this meningitis epidemic would last for more than two years, and they did not expect that it would affect most areas.

Only Wang Mengde learned about this matter from some information from later generations, but he could not say it directly.

"Vice President Shi, according to past records, most epidemics of meningococcal meningitis only last for a few months, and usually disappear in April or May.

But there are individual cases. I read an ancient book and it recorded that there was once a time when this disease was prevalent for a whole year and a half.

So, we must be on guard.”

After a pause, seeing that everyone was listening attentively, he continued:
"Also, regarding vaccine development, I can set up a surprise research team with my colleagues at the Beijing Gene Research Institute to focus on developing a meningococcal vaccine."

In the past, meningitis gradually disappeared after the entire population was vaccinated.

Every year, there are at most a few cases across the country, which no longer pose a threat.

After he finished speaking, there was silence for a while before Dean Lu spoke:
“I support Comrade Wang Mengde’s suggestion in principle that vaccine development work needs to start immediately.

Even if it is not used this time, it will be used in the future. The meningococcal epidemic is not something we can control, so it will never go wrong to prepare in advance.

In this way, I will report these suggestions to my superiors immediately, but we cannot just wait for instructions from our superiors. Some work that can be done needs to be done immediately. "

It was not until seven or eight o'clock in the evening that Wang Mengde pushed his bicycle back to the courtyard.

In the living room, He Shengnan was sitting in a chair in a trance. When she heard the noise outside, she immediately came to her senses, stood up and said:
"Meng De, you're back.

Have you eaten yet? I left some food for you on the stove.

This afternoon, my mom and I steamed cabbage, vermicelli, tofu and other big buns, and had some porridge.

"Well, I haven't had time to eat since noon. I've been busy until now. Hurry up and bring out the food."

Wang Mengde said hungrily.

At the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, after the meeting, he immediately got down to work.

The superiors responded very quickly. Within half an hour after President Lu made his report, relevant instructions came down.

The suggestions they put forward were basically accepted in their entirety.

I didn't have time to eat lunch at noon because, after investigation by the district and city health and epidemic prevention stations, it was found that the meningococcal epidemic had already begun to spread over a small area.

Some hospitals have actually received relevant patients, but they did not think it was meningitis and instead treated them for other illnesses.

This discovery made everyone break out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, it was discovered in time, otherwise it would have been troublesome in a few days.

This disease spreads extremely quickly. If it is discovered one minute earlier, it can prevent it from spreading to more people.

He Shengnan quickly brought the hot food from the stove to the dining table, then sat aside, watching her man wolfing down his food, and said with a look of heartache:
"Meng De, is there anything going on at work? Why don't you have time to eat?

You went out to take a shower this morning and never came back, and they didn’t know the reason, and we were all very worried.”

After stuffing a small half of the vegetable bun in his hand into his mouth and taking a mouthful of porridge, Wang Mengde burped comfortably.

Then he whispered:
"A child was found sick in the bathhouse this morning, suffering from meningitis.

This disease is contagious, so I sent him directly to Guang'anmen Hospital.

By the way, please pack some clothes for me later. I may not have time to come back for a while, so please take care of the things at home.

If there is any problem with the children, please call me. You must remember my office phone number and Mr. Pu’s office phone number. "

“I remember the phone number.

Meng De, is this epidemic of meningococcal meningitis very serious? "

He Shengnan answered and asked worriedly.

Although she didn't know medicine, she could tell from her man's tone and the tense arrangements that something big must have happened this time.

“This meningitis is indeed quite serious, but don’t worry, I’m here.

Also, don’t tell anyone else about this. If anyone asks you, just say that the company has a task and you need to work overtime for a few days.”

Wang Mengde comforted him and gave him instructions again.

"Well, I understand.

Just focus on your work and don’t worry about the things at home.”

He Shengnan nodded solemnly.

She's used to it now.

In the second half of 57, Wang Mengde went to the south for a full six months. At other times, he often did not return home for several days.

There were even many times when I was called away in the middle of the night.

After dinner, he took a hot bath with He Shengnan's help, and then went to bed to rest.

Early the next morning.

Wang Mengde got up before dawn, hurriedly ate four large vegetable buns that He Shengnan had prepared early in the morning, drank two bowls of millet porridge, and then went out comfortably.

Before seven o'clock, he arrived at the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Before long, everyone, including the dean and several vice-deans, arrived.

Yesterday, all the relevant staff members were notified one by one and they must arrive early today.

The next step is, of course, to assign work.

For those who currently do not have important work on hand, except for ensuring the normal operation of Guang'anmen Hospital, all other people should give priority to supporting the prevention and treatment of meningococcal meningitis.

Wang Mengde has the heaviest workload.

Not only did he have to go to the Beijing Gene Research Institute to take the lead in developing a meningococcal vaccine, but he also had to work with everyone at Guang'anmen Hospital to treat patients.

At the same time, he will also join the newly established group dedicated to the research of treatment methods for meningococcal meningitis.

Finally, we will also participate in the compilation of the meningococcal meningitis prevention and control manual and the compilation of meningococcal meningitis prevention and control experience.

Beijing Gene Research Institute.

As soon as Liu Shuwei and Gu Junxin arrived at the unit, they were called into the office by Wang Mengde.

"Director Wang, is there any new task for us to do?"

It was the first time Liu Shuwei saw Wang Mengde come to the Genetic Research Institute so early, so he asked curiously.

“Well, there are indeed new tasks.

Yesterday, we found a patient with meningococcal meningitis. After investigation by comrades at the epidemic prevention station, we found that a small-scale outbreak had already occurred.

Following the instructions of our superiors, our Gene Research Institute must seize the time to develop a meningococcal vaccine. After all, vaccination is the most effective way to prevent meningococcal disease."

"Meningococcal disease broke out in the capital?!"

After hearing this, Gu Junxin looked serious.

He had studied in the West for many years and knew that this disease was prevalent all over the world.

The death toll from every major outbreak is no less than that of a war.

What is even more frightening are the various sequelae.

Major Western research institutes and scientific research institutions have never stopped researching this disease.

We tried various drugs and finally found that sulfonamides were effective for it, but the results were not satisfactory.

Although the mortality rate has dropped sharply, more than half of the patients will eventually suffer from various serious sequelae.

“Well, it’s been confirmed, so we have a tight schedule and a heavy task ahead of us.

At the research institute, except for key research items, other unimportant ones can be put on hold for now. Next, we will give priority to developing a meningococcal vaccine.

Of course, you don’t have to worry about it taking too long, I already have a general research direction in mind.”

Wang Mengde explained.

By the way, I also comforted the two of them.

With a lot of research results from his previous life, it was very easy for him to quickly replicate a vaccine that had been proven to be safe.

If he wasn't afraid of not being able to explain it, he wouldn't even have to pretend to do the experiment and could have directly built the production line.

"Director, it's great that you already have a research direction."

Liu Shuwei and Gu Junxin said in surprise at the same time.

With Wang Mengde's words, they were completely relieved.

Even, a little impatient.

(End of this chapter)