The new warning comes as more cases of the potentially deadly disease have been detected among returning British nationals.
The Foreign Office-backed website Travel Health Pro announced that 14 cases of the deadly meningococcal disease have been detected among people returning from Saudi Arabia, including one from the UK.
The website announced that as of 21 June 2024, a total of 14 cases of invasive meningococcal disease have been reported, including five in the US, four in France, three in the UK, one case each in Norway and the Netherlands. These were detected in travellers or contacts of travellers returning from the Umrah pilgrimage.
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a significant cause of meningitis and sepsis. The disease often progresses rapidly, with about 1 in 10 people dying. Once the bacteria enter the body, it causes an acute, severe bacterial infection.
Meningitis often presents with a triad of symptoms: fever, headache, and stiff neck. It is often accompanied by other signs, such as altered mental status, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light.
Meningococcal septicemia is characterized by fever and a petechial or purpuric rash and is often accompanied by septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and multiple organ failure. The disease has a mortality rate of up to 40%.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, survivors may suffer neurological and hearing damage and amputations may be necessary in up to 20% of cases. An intense heat wave has been reported to have killed more than 900 people during the Hajj. The Ministry of Health has issued the following advice to pilgrims:
- wearing facemasks in crowded areas
- frequent hand washing with soap and water or disinfectant, particularly after coughing, sneezing, using the toilet, before handling food, and after touching animals
- using disposable tissues when coughing or sneezing and disposing of them properly
- avoiding contact with sick individuals and not sharing personal items
- steering clear of camels in farms, markets, or barns
- refraining from consuming unpasteurised milk or raw meat or animal products that haven’t been thoroughly cooked, as well as taking measures to prevent insect bites.
- Saudi authorities have banned travellers arriving for the Hajj from bringing in food unless it is properly preserved or sealed. Anyone arriving near the Hajj site for pilgrimage, seasonal work, or any other reason is advised to:
- Wash hands before and after eating and after using the toilet
- Clean and wash fresh vegetables and fruits
- Cook food thoroughly and store it in a safe place, keeping it at the correct temperature