title: Serogroup W135 meningococcal disease in Hajj pilgrims.
abstract: An outbreak of W135 meningococcal disease occurred in the spring of 2000 among pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia and their contacts. Clinical isolates from England and France were examined and compared with reference strains from other countries. Characterisation of isolates by a range of typing methods showed them to be of clonal origin (ET-37) and closely related to other meningococci with an established propensity to cause disease clusters. A reappraisal of vaccination strategies for travellers is required.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Achtman
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Greenwood
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaczmarski
mesh_terms: D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D014195:Travel