Meningitis alert after Hajj

LONDON, England -- A health alert has been issued in the UK after seven people known to have attended the Hajj died from meningitis.

The Department of Health issued an urgent message to all doctors and health authorities urging them to be vigilant for signs of the disease.

So far 29 people in England and Wales have fallen ill with the W135 meningococcal infection, and seven have died since the pilgrimage to Mecca in March.

It is a strain of meningitis not normally found in Britain, but prevalent in Saudi Arabia.

All 29 British victims had either been on the pilgrimage or had been in contact with people who had travelled to the holy city for the event.

It is not known where the people are from or whether they are children or adults.

More than 20,000 British Muslims are believed to have travelled to Mecca for the annual pilgrimage this year.

Pilgrims are offered a vaccine against the strain but health chiefs said uptake prior to the event this year had been low.

The Department of Health issued an electronic warning on its NHS-wide electronic Epinet system on April 13 after the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre alerted them to the cases.

A spokeswoman said: "In response to reports of cases of meningococcal infection associated with this year's Hajj, the Department of Health issued an urgent message to GPs and accident and emergency departments to make them aware of the situation.

"On the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, travellers to the Hajj were advised to be immunised with a vaccine covering this strain."

Symptoms of the W135 strain are the same as other forms of meningitis, with people suffering high temperatures, vomiting and dislike of bright lights.

Following the Hajj last year, 45 people in the UK were diagnosed with the strain, of which eight died, according to the department.

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Department of Health
The Hajj
Meningitis
The National Meningitis Trust

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