title: Serogroup W-135 meningococcal disease during the Hajj, 2000.
abstract: An outbreak of serogroup W-135 meningococcal disease occurred during the 2000 Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Disease was reported worldwide in Hajj pilgrims and their close contacts; however, most cases were identified in Saudi Arabia. Trends in Saudi meningococcal disease were evaluated and the epidemiology of Saudi cases from this outbreak described. Saudi national meningococcal disease incidence data for 1990 to 2000 were reviewed; cases from January 24 to June 5, 2000, were retrospectively reviewed. The 2000 Hajj outbreak consisted of distinct serogroup A and serogroup W-135 outbreaks. Of 253 identified cases in Saudi Arabia, 161 (64%) had serogroup identification; serogroups W-135 and A caused 93 (37%) and 60 (24%) cases with attack rates of 9 and 6 cases per 100,000 population, respectively. The 2000 Hajj outbreak was the first large serogroup W-135 meningococcal disease outbreak identified worldwide. Enhanced surveillance for serogroup W-135, especially in Africa, is essential to control this emerging epidemic disease.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. jwl8@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Jairam R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lingappa
authors.forename: Abdullah M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Rabeah
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hajjeh
authors.forename: Tajammal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fatani
authors.forename: Tami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Al-Bassam
authors.forename: Amira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badukhan
authors.forename: Abdulhafiz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turkistani
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Makki
authors.forename: Nassen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Hamdan
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Jeffri
authors.forename: Yaqoub
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al Mazrou
authors.forename: Bradley A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: Tonja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Popovic
authors.forename: Leonard W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Nancy E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Rosenstein
mesh_terms: D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D003710:Demography; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification; D038582:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup W-135 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012703:Serotyping; D014195:Travel