Serogroup B meningococcal disease during Hajj: preparing for the worst scenario.
The Islamic Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia has historically been associated with outbreaks of serogroup A and W135 meningococcal disease. Prevention against meningococcal disease has principally been vaccination with meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines, either in a bivalent serogroup A/C or quadrivalent A/C/Y/W135 form. These interventions have suppressed meningococcal disease since 2002. Countries with large Muslim populations have now started to show a trend of increased serogroup B meningococcal disease, a serogroup for which there is no universal vaccine available. These trends should increase our preparedness to expect a sudden change in the etiology of meningococcal disease during the Hajj.
Khalil
Mohamed K M
MK
Medical Research, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. statkhl@hotmail.com
Borrow
Ray
R
D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D014195:Travel