Hajj pilgrims reminded to have meningitis jab, UK

Main Category: Hypertension
Article Date: 14 Jan 2005 - 10:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, today reminded those travellers leaving for the annual Hajj Muslim Pilgrimage to Mecca to get their quadrivalent meningitis jab before they leave if they haven't already done so.

An estimated 50,000 pilgrims travel from England to Saudi Arabia take part in the Hajj pilgrimage each year. Travellers risk contracting a particular strain of meningococcal disease known as W135 if they are not properly immunised.

Cases of meningococcal infection and deaths due to the W135 strain were reduced after action by the Department of Health over the last few years - 45 cases in 2000 compared to just 6 in 2002 and no cases in 2003. Action involved raising awareness of the risk amongst pilgrims and introducing vaccination as a requirment of travel.

Sir Liam said:

"Meningicoccal infection is not only a serious threat to those travelling to the Hajj but also to their friends and family when they return. The number of cases and deaths from Hajj related meningitis W135 has dropped sharply thanks to our awareness raising campaign backed up with making vaccination a requirement for travel, both carried out in conjunction with the Muslim community".

Details of the campaign have been circulated within a multi-lingual leaflet which highlights the need for immunisation against meningitis and advises on other health issues affecting Hajj pilgrims. This continues to be distributed through mosques, travel agents and GP surgeries. The vaccine is available through GP surgeries and specialist travel health centres.

Notes to editor

Vaccination against meningitis A and C infection has been routinely recommended for travellers to the Hajj or Umrah. However, in March 2000 an outbreak of W135 meningococcal disease occurred amongst pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia following that year's Hajj pilgrimage.

In 2000 a quadrivalent vaccine protecting against W135 strain (as well as A, C and Y strains) became available in the UK.

The Saudi Arabian Embassy now insists that all travellers to the Hajj book their visit through approved tour operators. Proof of immunisation with the quadrivalent A, C, W135, Y vaccine is a visa requirement for Saudi Arabia.

This year will see two Hajj pilgrimages in one year. The 2004 Hajj will take place in the middle of January 2005 (17 - 21st), with the 2005 Hajj taking place in December 2005

The leaflet, poster and further health and travel advice are available from the Department of Health website www.doh.gov.uk/traveladvice/hajj.htm

Media enquiries ONLY to the Deaprtment of Health press office all others to Public Enquires on the numbers provided.

Contact
Department of Health
Press officer
020 7210 5656
Public Enquiries
020 7210 4850
This is a press release from the UK Dept of Health

• Additional
• References
• Citations