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Neisseria meningitidis W-135 carriage during the Hajj season 2003

Hanan H Balkhy1, Ziad A Memish, Maha A Almuneef

  • 1Department of Infection Prevention and Control, King Abdulaziz Medical City, King Fahad National Guard Hospital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
|June 17, 2004
PubMed

Insights

During the 2003 Hajj pilgrimage, Neisseria meningitidis carriage was low among pilgrims. Non-groupable strains predominated, suggesting a re-evaluation of antibiotic use and continued vaccination recommendations.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The Hajj pilgrimage presents a unique setting for potential infectious disease transmission due to large gatherings of international travelers.
  • Neisseria meningitidis carriage is a concern for meningococcal disease outbreaks, particularly in crowded conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence of Neisseria meningitidis carriage among pilgrims during the 2003 Hajj.
  • To inform public health recommendations regarding chemoprophylaxis and vaccination for Hajj pilgrims.

Main Methods:

  • Throat swabs were collected from 344 pilgrims of diverse nationalities during the 2003 Hajj.
  • Isolates were tested for Neisseria meningitidis and serogrouped.

Main Results:

  • Neisseria meningitidis was isolated from 11 subjects (3.2% carriage rate).
  • Predominant strains were non-groupable (8 isolates), with fewer serogroup W-135 (2 isolates) and serogroup B (1 isolate).
  • A low colonization rate was observed in this cohort.

Conclusions:

  • The low carriage rate and predominance of non-groupable strains may warrant re-evaluation of ciprofloxacin recommendations for departing pilgrims.
  • Continued recommendation for meningococcal quadrivalent vaccine for all pilgrims is advised.
  • Surveillance for emerging strains is crucial for early warning of potential outbreaks.

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