Meningococcal disease and travel

Invasive meningococcal disease, in both endemic and epidemic forms, is the cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite all advance s in therapy, the fatality rate of meningococcal meningitis remains unaccep tably high, between 5% and 10%, and a similar proportion suffers long-term neurological sequalae. Prevention of this rapidly fatal disease is of param ount importance. The use of the available internationally licensed meningoc occal vaccines would be indicated for individuals with medical conditions t hat increase the risk of the disease and for travelers to high-risk countri es. In the last 2 years, there has been a shift in the epidemic pattern of meningococcal disease during the Hajj (pilgrimage) season, with predominanc e of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135. Recent changes have been made i n the policy issued by the Saudi Ministry of Health (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), which requires visitors from all over the world arriving for purposes of u mra and Hajj to show evidence of vaccination against meningitis with the qu adrivalent meningococcal vaccine.