UK health alert as ‘highly fatal’ disease found in travelers returning from abroad

Britain’s Foreign Office has issued a stark warning about a serious illness arriving in the country with passengers returning from overseas travel. Official sources from Travel Health Pro, a branch of the government department, said three cases of meningococcal disease had been reported in the UK.

This disease is identified as a serious bacterial infection with a high mortality rate, often leading to meningitis and sepsis. Representatives of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) urged individuals to watch for symptoms carefully, as the illness can escalate “rapidly”, requiring urgent medical attention and immediate antibiotics.

Further detailing the spread, it was revealed that 12 cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) had occurred – four in France and five in the US, all dated to 17 May. An overwhelming majority of these patients have recently performed Umrah. pilgrimage while visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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Most cases are associated with meningococcal serogroup W and have no history of vaccination.

ECDC stated: “DMI is a severe, highly lethal, acute bacterial infection presenting with meningitis and/or sepsis, often with rapid progression, requiring medical support and prompt antibiotic treatment. The highest incidence occurs in young children and adolescents. and young adults,” reports Wales Online.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has pointed out that certain strains of meningitis, particularly serogroup W meningococcus, are linked to more severe disease and a higher mortality rate. However, the ECDC reassures vaccinated people, stating: “For pilgrims visiting the Hajj and Umrah areas of KSA who are vaccinated with the tetravalent meningococcal vaccine, the likelihood of infection is low as they are protected due to vaccine-induced immunity. For unvaccinated pilgrims who visit these places, the probability of infection is moderate”.

“ECDC assesses the risk of IMD to the general public in the EU as very low due to the very low probability of exposure and potential infection.”

It is recommended that travelers to the Hajj and Umrah areas of Saudi Arabia receive the tetravalent meningococcal vaccine (ACWY) at least 10 days before departure.

Doctors have been alerted to be alert for symptoms of meningitis in people returning from the pilgrimage from Saudi Arabia. In cases where meningitis is suspected, the guidance is clear: “the person should be placed in isolation, any close contacts should be identified and monitored for at least 10 days after the last possible exposure”.

Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis may include a sudden onset of fever, headache, and stiff neck, along with nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light, and confusion. Signs in children and infants may differ, presenting as inactivity, irritability, vomiting or slow reflexes.

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