Persistence of W135 Neisseria meningitidis carriage in returning Hajj pilgrims: risk for early and late transmission to household contacts.
After an outbreak of meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis W135, associated with the Hajj pilgrimage in 2001, 15% of returning vaccinated pilgrims carried a single W135 clone, and 55% were still carriers 6 months later. Transmission to 8% of their unvaccinated household contacts occurred within the first few weeks, but no late transmission took place. Public health interventions are needed to protect household contacts.
Wilder-Smith
Annelies
A
Head, Travellers' Health and Vaccination Centre, Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore. epvws@pacific.net.sg
Barkham
Timothy M S
TM
Ravindran
Sindhu
S
Earnest
Arul
A
Paton
Nicholas I
NI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D014195:Travel