25 May 2024 , 10:10
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Brits have been issued a health alert after officials confirmed a deadly disease has been detected in travellers.
The Foreign Office and Travel Health Pro, which is part of the government department, warned that three cases of meningococcal disease have been found in the UK. The bacterial infection has "high case fatality" and can cause meningitis and sepsis, according to experts.
The serious condition has sparked fears for officials at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), who have urged holidaymakers to look out for symptoms including a fever or a headache. Any travellers who have been struck with the condition should seek medical help immediately so they can be administered emergency antibiotics. Officials warned that the condition can progress "rapidly".
So far, 12 cases of the meningococcal disease (IMD) have been flagged - four in France and five in the USA up to May 17 - with almost all cases reported performing the Umrah pilgrimage while in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The majority of cases belong to meningococcus serogroup W and have no history of vaccination, reports Bristol Live.
The ECDC said: “IMD is an acute severe bacterial infection, with high case fatality, presenting with meningitis and/or sepsis, often with a rapid progression, requiring medical support and prompt treatment with antibiotics. The highest incidence occurs in young children, adolescents and young adults.”
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The disease can cause meningitis (Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)There are a number of known strains of the disease and meningococcus serogroup W has been associated with higher disease severity and case fatality. The ECDC said those who are vaccinated there shouldn’t be too much of a cause for fear. It said: “For pilgrims visiting the Hajj and Umrah zones in KSA who are vaccinated with the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine, the likelihood of infection is low, as they are protected thanks to vaccine-induced immunity. For unvaccinated pilgrims visiting these sites, the likelihood of infection is moderate.
“ECDC assesses the risk of IMD to the general public in the EU as very low due to the very small probability of exposure and potential infection.” People travelling to the Hajj and Umrah zones in KSA should get the quadrivalent (ACWY) meningococcal vaccine at least 10 days before departure.
Doctors are being notified to look for signs of meningitis in returning travellers, and to flag up if the person has been to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage. It said if there is a suspicion they’ve got it, the person should be placed in isolation, any close contacts identified and monitored for at least 10 days from the last possible exposure.
Common symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include sudden fever, headache, and stiff neck. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light, and confusion. Children and infants may show different signs and symptoms, such as inactivity, irritability, vomiting, or poor reflexes.