HEALTH - 7 die of meningitis after contracting new strain from Mecca pilgrimage

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ET SEVEN people have died from a strain of meningitis new to Britain after the disease was contracted by Muslim pilgrims to Mecca.

Health chiefs have issued a message urging all GPs and health authorities to watch out for signs of the disease. Since the annual Hajj pilgrimage in March, a total of 29 people in England and Wales have fallen ill with the infection - which was extremely rare in Britain before last year.

All either visited Mecca or have been in contact with those who travelled to the holy city for the event. The seven victims were adults and children living in different areas of England and Wales.

Pilgrims are offered a vaccine against the W135 meningococcal strain but this year's uptake, by the estimated 20,000 British Muslims who travelled to Mecca, was low.

The infection was first seen in Britain last year, again after the Hajj pilgrimage, and cases continued to occur throughout the year. Health officials are not predicting a large-scale outbreak but believe the disease could be spread through contact with those who contracted it this year.

An electronic warning on the NHS-wide Epinet system was issued last week after the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre alerted the Department of Health to the cases.

A DoH spokesman said: "In response to reports of cases of meningococcal infection associated with this year's Hajj, the Department of Health issued an urgent message to GPs and accident and emergency departments to make them aware of the situation.

"Cases of meningococcal infection have been associated with previous Hajjs. On the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, travellers to the Hajj were advised to be immunised with a vaccine covering this strain."

Meningitis is a serious illness in which the membranes lining the brain and spinal cord, the meninges, become inflamed. It is usually the result of infection by either a virus or bacterium.

Meningococcal meningitis, the bacterial variant, is usually life threatening and treatment should be sought as a matter of emergency. The W135 infection is prevalent in Saudi Arabia.

Symptoms of the strain are the same as other forms of meningitis - high temperatures, vomiting, a possible rash, headaches and dislike of bright lights.

People who are concerned can ring the Meningitis Trust on 0845 6000 800

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001


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