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Published on: November 5, 2019

Meningococcal disease and travel

Annelies Wilder-Smith1, Ziad Memish

  • 1Travellers' Health and Vaccination Centre, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore 308433, Singapore. epvws@pacific.net.sg

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents
|March 5, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Meningococcal disease poses global travel risks. Travelers, especially pilgrims, face unique threats, necessitating a shift to quadrivalent vaccines for broader protection against serogroups A, C, Y, and W135.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Travel Medicine

Background:

  • Meningococcal disease remains a significant global health concern.
  • International travel facilitates the spread of meningococcal bacteria across continents.
  • Travelers face distinct risks compared to endemic populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of meningococcal disease on international travel.
  • To examine how international travel influences meningococcal spread.
  • To recommend updated vaccination strategies for travelers.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of meningococcal disease epidemiology and travel.
  • Analysis of disease patterns in traveler populations, particularly pilgrims.
  • Evaluation of vaccine efficacy and recommendations.

Main Results:

  • The Hajj pilgrimage is a well-documented high-risk event for meningococcal disease.
  • Recent outbreaks, notably W135, have led to vaccine requirements for specific travel.
  • Increasing global reports of serogroups Y and W135 are evident.

Conclusions:

  • Quadrivalent meningococcal vaccines (A/C/Y/W135) are crucial for travelers.
  • A transition from bivalent (A&C) to quadrivalent vaccines is recommended for all international travelers.
  • Enhanced surveillance and vaccination policies are needed to mitigate travel-related risks.

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