Travellers hoping to jet away this Summer have been warned of a potentially life threatening infection that can kill within a matter of hours, after numerous cases of the disease were detected in popular holiday locations – including some in the UK.
The disease in question is invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), which has seen cases detected in France, Norway, the USA and in the UK over the past few weeks, with all of the cases having been directly linked to people who had travelled to, or been in contact with people that had visited Saudi Arabia.
So far, 14 cases of the disease have been identified in France (4), the United Kingdom (3), the United States (5), Norway (1), and the Netherlands (1), and all are connected to returning travellers who had visited Saudi Arabia as part of Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to the Holy Land, reports the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
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In light of the small number of recent cases, the ECDC has branded the general risk to travellers to be ‘low’, but did consider the risk of infection to be moderate in people with underlying health conditions, the elderly, and pregnant women. As a result, travellers are advised to be aware of the possible symptoms of the illness, and to consider vaccinating themselves against it to offer the most protection.
So what is invasive meningococcal disease?
Meningococcal disease is an illness caused by a type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis, and can result in two serious illnesses, meningitis and septicaemia.
Most people can be infected without realising it, as the bacteria typically lurks in the back of the throat without any obvious signs of infection, however if the bacteria invade the body they can cause a severe bacterial infection which can sometimes be fatal in a mere matter of hours.
Both meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia need urgent treatment in hospital and are often treated with IV antibiotics and supportive care to stop the condition becoming life threatening. Among the most at risk are babies and young children, with teens and adults also far from immune to catching the brutal illness.
What are the symptoms?
Some of the most common symptoms of meningitis include:
- A high temperature
- Being sick
- A headache
- a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
- a stiff neck.
- a dislike of bright lights.
- drowsiness or unresponsiveness.
- seizures (fits)
If you, or your child show any of these symptoms, it is important to seek urgent medical care straight away.
How can I prevent it?
One of the easiest ways to prevent infection with meningitis is to consider being vaccinated against it. The vaccines are free of charge on the NHS, and could potentially save your life.
As numerous different infections can cause meningitis, there are also several different vaccinations to offer protection against it, with the most suitable for you and your family often determined by your existing vaccine record, and your age.
Some of the vaccines you may be offered include:
- Men B vaccine – (meningitis B)
- 6-in-1 vaccine – (offering protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio and haemophilius influenzae type B)
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- Hib/Men C vaccine – (Haemophilius Influenzae type B and Meningitis C)
- MMR – (measles, mumps, rubella)
- MenACWY – meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y
For more help and support surrounding Meningitis, visit: MeningitisNow
If you have any concerns about your health, you should always speak to your doctor about your symptoms as your first port of call.