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Al-Tawfiq JA, Memish ZA. The Hajj 2019 Vaccine Requirements and Possible New Challenges. J Epidemiol Glob Health 2019; 9:147-152. [PMID: 31529930 PMCID: PMC7310822 DOI: 10.2991/jegh.k.190705.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Each year millions of pilgrims perform the annual Hajj from more than 180 countries around the world. This is one of the largest mass gathering events and may result in the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases. As such, there are mandatory vaccinations for the pilgrims such as meningococcal vaccines. The 2019 annual Hajj will take place during August 8-13, 2019. Thus, we review the recommended and mandated vaccinations for the 2019 Hajj and Umrah. The mandatory vaccines required to secure the visa include the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine for all pilgrims, while yellow fever, and poliomyelitis vaccines are required for pilgrims coming from countries endemic or with disease activity. The recommended vaccines are influenza, pneumococcal, in addition to full compliance with basic vaccines for all pilgrims against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, and mumps. It is imperative to continue surveillance for the spread of antimicrobial resistance and occurrence of all infectious diseases causing outbreaks across the globe in the last year, like Zika virus, MDR-Typhoid, Nipah, Ebola, cholera, chikungunya and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq
- Infectious Disease Section, Specialty Medicine Department, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ziad A. Memish
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Hospital (PMAH), Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Hoang VT, Nguyen TTT, Belhouchat K, Meftah M, Sow D, Benkouiten S, Dao TL, Anh Ly TD, Drali T, Yezli S, Alotaibi B, Raoult D, Parola P, Pommier de Santi V, Gautret P. Antibiotic use for respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims: A cohort survey and review of the literature. Travel Med Infect Dis 2019; 30:39-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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The threat of meningococcal disease during the Hajj and Umrah mass gatherings: A comprehensive review. Travel Med Infect Dis 2018; 24:51-58. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Al-Tawfiq JA, Gautret P, Memish ZA. Expected immunizations and health protection for Hajj and Umrah 2018 -An overview. Travel Med Infect Dis 2017; 19:2-7. [PMID: 29037978 PMCID: PMC7110709 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2017.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The annual Hajj and Umrah are one of the largest recurring religious mass gatherings across the globe drawing pilgrims from more than 185 countries. The living circumstances and activities of the pilgrims may create an environment for the occurrence and spread of communicable diseases. Each year, the Health authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in coordination with international health authorities, updates health requirements for pilgrims. The Hajj for 2017 took place from August 24 to September 5, 2017. Here, we review the expected obligations for immunizations for the 2018 Hajj and Umrah. RESULTS The Hajj and Umrah vaccine requirements include mandatory vaccinations against yellow fever, quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide (every 3 years) or conjugated (every 5 years) vaccines and poliomyelitis vaccine. Influenza vaccine utilizing the 2016 (Southern Hemisphere vaccine to all pilgrims) was recommended but was not obligatory for pilgrims. Ciprofloxacin is required for individuals >12 years excluding pregnant women as chemoprophylaxis to be given at the port of entry for Pilgrims coming from the meningitis belt. With the ongoing outbreaks of measles in Europe, it is recommended that all pilgrims have an updated immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles and mumps). CONCLUSION The mandatory vaccines remain the same with continued vigilance for the development of any new or emerging infectious diseases. Continuing surveillance for Zika virus, cholera and MERS-CoV are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq
- Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - Philippe Gautret
- Unité de Recherche sur Les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales émergentes (URMITE) CNRS-IRD UMR 6236, Méditerranée Infection, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Aix-Marseille-Université, Marseille, France
| | - Ziad A Memish
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, Prince Mohamed Bin Abdulaziz Hospital ("PMAH"), Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Memish ZA, Al-Tawfiq JA, Almasri M, Azhar EI, Yasir M, Al-Saeed MS, Ben Helaby H, Borrow R, Turkistani A, Assiri A. Neisseria meningitidis nasopharyngeal carriage during the Hajj: A cohort study evaluating the need for ciprofloxacin prophylaxis. Vaccine 2017; 35:2473-2478. [PMID: 28343777 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The annual Muslim pilgrimage has the potential of increase risk for acquisition of Neisseria meningitidis. Here, we evaluate the Hajj impact on the prevalence of N. meningitidis carriage in a paired and non-paired cohort of pilgrims. Secondary objectives were to calculate the compliance with recommended vaccination. METHODS This is a prospective paired (arriving and departing), non-paired arriving and non-paired departing cohort study with the collection of nasopharyngeal samples at the start and the end of the Hajj. RESULTS The study included unpaired arriving pilgrims at King Abdul Aziz International Airport (N=1055), unpaired departing cohort (N=373), and a paired cohort (N=628) who were tested on arrival and departure. Meningococcal vaccination was received by all pilgrims, 98.2% received quadrivalent polysaccharide vaccine (ACWY), and 1.8% received meningococcal quadrivalent conjugate vaccine (MCV4). Only 1.61% and 23.03% received pneumococcal and influenza vaccines, respectively. Of the 1055 arriving unpaired pilgrim, 36 (3.4%) tested positive for nasopharyngeal carriage of N. meningitidis, and 24 (66.7%) of these were serogroup B, the remainder were non-groupable. Haemophilus influenza was detected among 45 (4.3%), and 11 (1%) carriers were positive for both N. meningitidis and H. influenzae. Out of 373 in the unpaired departing cohort, 6 (1.61%) tested positive for N. meningitidis, and 34 (9.1%) were positive for H. influenzae. Of the 628 paired cohort pilgrims, 36 (5.7%) pilgrims were positive for N. meningitidis at arrival and 16 (2.5%) pilgrims were positive after the hajj. CONCLUSION This the largest study of the epidemiology of N. meningitidis among pilgrims. The study showed a significant difference in the carriage between pilgrims from high endemicity and other pilgrims with a predominance of serogroup B. The continued use of ciprofloxacin as prophylactic antibiotics should be reconsidered as well as the consideration to add serogroup B as a required vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziad A Memish
- Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Alfaisal University, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, USA.
| | - Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq
- Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Esam I Azhar
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Yasir
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muneera S Al-Saeed
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Huda Ben Helaby
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
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Yezli S, Wilder-Smith A, Bin Saeed AA. Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis in the Hajj and Umrah mass gatherings. Int J Infect Dis 2016; 47:65-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2015.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Yezli S, Bin Saeed AA, Assiri AM, Alhakeem RF, Yunus MA, Turkistani AM, Booy R, Alotaibi BM. Prevention of meningococcal disease during the Hajj and Umrah mass gatherings: past and current measures and future prospects. Int J Infect Dis 2015; 47:71-8. [PMID: 26707071 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2015.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has a long history of instituting preventative measures against meningococcal disease (MD). KSA is at risk of outbreaks of MD due to its geographic location, demography, and especially because it hosts the annual Hajj and Umrah mass gatherings. Preventative measures for Hajj and Umrah include vaccination, targeted chemoprophylaxis, health awareness and educational campaigns, as well as an active disease surveillance and response system. Preventative measures have been introduced and updated in accordance with changes in the epidemiology of MD and available preventative tools. The mandatory meningococcal vaccination policy for pilgrims has possibly been the major factor in preventing outbreaks during the pilgrimages. The policy of chemoprophylaxis for all pilgrims arriving from the African meningitis belt has also probably been important in reducing the carriage and transmission of Neisseria meningitidis in KSA and beyond. The preventative measures for Hajj and Umrah are likely to continue to focus on vaccination, but to favour the conjugate vaccine for its extra benefits over the polysaccharide vaccines. Additionally, the surveillance system will continue to be strengthened to ensure early detection and response to cases and outbreaks; ongoing disease awareness campaigns for pilgrims will continue, as will chemoprophylaxis for target groups. Local and worldwide surveillance of the disease and drug-resistant N. meningitidis are crucial in informing future recommendations for vaccination, chemoprophylaxis, and treatment. Preventative measures should be reviewed regularly and updated accordingly, and compliance with these measures should be monitored and enhanced to prevent MD during Hajj and Umrah, as well as local and international outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saber Yezli
- The Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Abdulaziz A Bin Saeed
- The Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Rafat F Alhakeem
- Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muslim A Yunus
- Immunization Unit, Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Robert Booy
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), The Children's Hospital at Westmead and University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Badriah M Alotaibi
- The Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Khatami A, Pollard AJ. The epidemiology of meningococcal disease and the impact of vaccines. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 9:285-98. [DOI: 10.1586/erv.10.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Sáfadi MAP, McIntosh EDG. Epidemiology and prevention of meningococcal disease: a critical appraisal of vaccine policies. Expert Rev Vaccines 2012; 10:1717-30. [PMID: 22085175 DOI: 10.1586/erv.11.159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Meningococcal disease is characterized by a marked variation in incidence and serogroup distribution by region and over time. In several European countries, Canada and Australia, immunization programs, including universal vaccination of infants or toddlers with catch-up campaigns in children and adolescents, aimed at controlling disease caused by meningococcal serogroup C have been successful in reducing disease incidence through direct and indirect protection. More recently, meningococcal conjugate vaccines targeting disease caused by serogroups A, C, W-135 and Y have been licensed and are being used in adolescent programs in the USA and Canada while a mass immunization campaign against serogroup A disease has been implemented in Africa. Positive results from clinical trials using vaccines against serogroup B disease in various age groups suggest the possibility of providing broader protection against serogroup B disease than is provided by the currently used outer membrane vesicle vaccines. The purpose of our review of meningococcal epidemiology and assessment of existing policies is to set the stage for future policy decisions. Vaccination policies to prevent meningococcal disease in different regions of the world should be based on quality information from enhanced surveillance systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A P Sáfadi
- Department of Pediatrics, Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Mattos IB, Alves DA, Hollanda LM, Ceragiogli HJ, Baranauskas V, Lancellotti M. Effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) under Neisseria meningitidis transformation process. J Nanobiotechnology 2011; 9:53. [PMID: 22088149 PMCID: PMC3235062 DOI: 10.1186/1477-3155-9-53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2011] [Accepted: 11/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed at verifying the action of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) under the naturally transformable Neisseria meningitidis against two different DNA obtained from isogenic mutants of this microorganism, an important pathogen implicated in the genetic horizontal transfer of DNA, causing the escape of the principal vaccination measured worldwide by the capsular switching process. Materials and methods The bacterium receptor strain C2135 was cultivated and had its mutant DNA donor M2 and M6, which received a receptor strain and MWCNT at three different concentrations. The inhibition effect of DNAse on the DNA in contact with nanoparticles was evaluated. Results The results indicated an in increase in the transformation capacity of N. meninigtidis in different concentrations of MWCNT when compared with negative control without nanotubes. A final analysis of the interaction between DNA and MWCNT was carried out using Raman Spectroscopy. Conclusion These increases in the transformation capacity mediated by MWCNT, in meningococci, indicate the interaction of these particles with the virulence acquisition of these bacteria, as well as with the increase in the vaccination escape process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ives B Mattos
- LABIOTEC - Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology CP6109, University of Campinas - UNICAMP 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Hollanda LM, Cury GC, Pereira RF, Ferreira GA, Sousa A, Sousa EM, Lancellotti M. Effect of mesoporous silica under Neisseria meningitidis transformation process: environmental effects under meningococci transformation. J Nanobiotechnology 2011; 9:28. [PMID: 21787408 PMCID: PMC3152511 DOI: 10.1186/1477-3155-9-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2011] [Accepted: 07/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed the use of mesoporous silica under the naturally transformable Neisseria meningitidis, an important pathogen implicated in the genetic horizontal transfer of DNA causing a escape of the principal vaccination measures worldwide by the capsular switching process. This study verified the effects of mesoporous silica under N. meningitidis transformation specifically under the capsular replacement. Methods we used three different mesoporous silica particles to verify their action in N. meningitis transformation frequency. Results we verified the increase in the capsular gene replacement of this bacterium with the three mesoporous silica nanoparticles. Conclusion the mesouporous silica particles were capable of increasing the capsule replacement frequency in N. meningitidis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana M Hollanda
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology CP6109, State University of Campinas UNICAMP, CP: 6109-CEP 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Abstract
SUMMARYW135 meningococcal disease was imported into Singapore in 2000 via Hajj pilgrims. Previous studies have showed sustained carriage of W135 with the potential for further transmission within communities. We therefore set out to determine whether W135 meningococcal disease would become endemic in Singapore after its introduction in 2000. Cases occurred until 2003, but no further cases have been reported since 2004.
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Meningococcal disease and prevention at the Hajj. Travel Med Infect Dis 2009; 7:219-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2009.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2009] [Accepted: 05/05/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Baharoon S, Al-Jahdali H, Al Hashmi J, Memish ZA, Ahmed QA. Severe sepsis and septic shock at the Hajj: etiologies and outcomes. Travel Med Infect Dis 2008; 7:247-52. [PMID: 19717109 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2008.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2008] [Accepted: 09/08/2008] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Hajj represents the largest mass migration on earth, during which several million Muslims travel across the planet to descend on specific holy sites at Makkah in the Hijaz area of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Since sepsis syndrome is a major worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality we decided to study the incidence, etiologies, complications and outcome of severe sepsis and septic shock among Hajjees patients in two major intensive care units (ICUs) in Makkah for the Hajj season 2004. METHOD A prospective observational study was conducted during the 2004 Hajj season between 8 January and 21 February in two major hospitals in Makkah. RESULTS Severe sepsis and septic shock accounts for 25.4% of admission to the ICU during Hajj. The mean age of hajjees was 65.45 (+/-14.0) years. Chronic respiratory illness was the leading comorbidity present in more than 70% of hajjees and pneumonia was the leading cause of sever sepsis and septic shock. Gram-negative organisms were the most frequently isolated pathogen in this subset of patients. Acute renal failure is common among pilgrims who presented with septic shock, and carries high mortality. CONCLUSION Septic shock is a major cause of admission to the ICU during Hajj and carries a poor outcome. More studies are needed to evaluate modifiable factors that are associated with this high mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salim Baharoon
- Department of Critical Care & Internal Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia.
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Meningococcal disease: Risk for international travellers and vaccine strategies. Travel Med Infect Dis 2008; 6:182-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2007.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2007] [Accepted: 10/09/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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El Bashir H, Coen PG, Haworth E, Taylor S, Mifsud A, El Baki A, Zuckerman J, Gray SJ, Booy R. Meningococcal W135 carriage; enhanced surveillance amongst east London Muslim pilgrims and their household contacts before and after attending the 2002 Hajj. Travel Med Infect Dis 2008; 2:13-5. [PMID: 17291951 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2004.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2003] [Revised: 01/12/2004] [Accepted: 01/12/2004] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND For two successive years, 2000 and 2001, there was a world-wide outbreak of W135 meningococcal disease amongst pilgrims who attended the Hajj and in their contacts after returning home. METHODS Beginning January 2002, we offered meningococcal quadrivalent polysaccharide vaccine (against serogroups A, C, Y and W135) to pilgrims and collected a throat swab for meningococcal W135 carriage before and after their pilgrimage. RESULTS The overall Neisseria meningitidis carriage pre-Hajj was 8.3% and 6.3% post-Hajj. We found W135 carriage rates of 0.8% before and 0.6% after Hajj, respectively. 21% (36/174) of the pilgrims were treated with antibiotics for respiratory illness. CONCLUSION The carriage of meningococcus W135 among UK pilgrims who visited the Hajj in 2002 was low. This contrasts with another study suggesting pilgrims frequently acquired N. meningitidis W135 carriage during 2001 Hajj. The use of the quadrivalent vaccine may account for this difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitham El Bashir
- Research Centre for Child Health, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, at Barts and The London, University of London, Royal London Hospital, 1st Floor, Luckes House, Stepney Way, London E1 1BB, UK
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW New vaccines to prevent meningococcal disease have been licensed in recent years. It is therefore timely to discuss current vaccine strategies pertinent to international travelers in relation to the changing epidemiology. RECENT FINDINGS Serogroup W135 achieved epidemic status in Africa in 2002, and then largely disappeared over a short time period. The year 2006 saw a marked epidemic rise in meningitis attack rates across the meningitis belt in Africa. This rise was mainly due to a new serogroup A strain, indicating that a new meningitis epidemic wave is beginning in Africa. Epidemics are also spreading south of the meningitis belt, including the Greater Lakes Area (Burundi, Rwanda, Republic of Tanzania). The new quadrivalent conjugate meningococcal vaccine is now licensed in North America but not elsewhere. In most other industrialized countries, the serogroup C conjugate vaccine is licensed. Plain polysaccharide quadrivalent vaccines are available almost worldwide. SUMMARY Quadrivalent meningococcal vaccination is a visa requirement for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. Travelers to the meningitis belt during the dry season should be advised to receive meningococcal vaccine that covers all four serogroups. This recommendation should be extended to the Greater Lake Area, because of recent epidemics. Vaccine choices depend on availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitham El Bashir
- General and Adolescent Paediatric Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 250 Euston Road, London NW1 2PG, UK.
| | - Harunor Rashid
- Research Centre for Child Health, St Bartholomew's and The London Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, UK
| | - Ziad A Memish
- Department of Medicine, Infection Prevention and Control King, Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shuja Shafi
- Health Protection Agency London, HPA Collaborating Laboratory, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex, UK
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Forgor AA, Leimkugel J, Hodgson A, Bugri A, Dangy JP, Gagneux S, Smith T, Pluschke G. Emergence of W135 meningococcal meningitis in Ghana. Trop Med Int Health 2006; 10:1229-34. [PMID: 16359402 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2005.01520.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135, well known for a long time as a cause of isolated cases of meningococcal meningitis, has recently increasingly been associated with disease outbreaks of considerable magnitude. Burkina Faso was hit by W135 epidemics in the dry seasons of 2002-2004, but only four W135 meningitis cases were recorded between February 2003 and March 2004 in adjoining Ghana. This reconfirms previous findings that bottlenecks exist in the spreading of new epidemic N. meningitidis clones within the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa. Of the four Ghanaian W135 meningitis patients one died and three survived, of whom one had profound neurosensory hearing loss and speech impairment. All four disease isolates were sensitive to penicillin G, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime and had the multi-locus sequence type (ST) 11, which is the major ST of the ET-37 clonal complex. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles of the Ghanaian disease isolates and recent epidemic isolates from Burkina Faso were largely identical. We conducted meningococcal colonization surveys in the home communities of three of the patients and in the Kassena Nankana District located at the border to Burkina Faso. W135 carriage rates ranged between 0% and 17.5%. When three consecutive surveys were conducted in the patient community with the highest carrier rate, persistence of W135 colonization over a period of 1 year was observed. Differences in PFGE profiles of carrier isolates taken at different times in the same patient community were indicative of rapid microevolution of the W135 bacteria, emphasizing the need for innovative fine typing methods to reveal the relationship between W135 isolates.
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Jin Z, Bohach GA, Shiloach J, Norris SE, Freedberg DI, Deobald C, Coxon B, Robbins JB, Schneerson R. Conjugates of group A and W135 capsular polysaccharides of neisseria meningitidis bound to recombinant Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin C1: preparation, physicochemical characterization, and immunological properties in mice. Infect Immun 2005; 73:7887-93. [PMID: 16299279 PMCID: PMC1307062 DOI: 10.1128/iai.73.12.7887-7893.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2005] [Revised: 07/22/2005] [Accepted: 08/26/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis groups A (GAM) and W135 capsular polysaccharides (CPs) were bound to recombinant Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin C1 (rSEC). The CPs were activated with 1-cyano-4-dimethylaminopyridinium tetrafluoroborate and then bound to adipic acid dihydrazide derivatives of rSEC. Syntheses were conducted with native GAM CP (GAMP), W135 CP (W135P), and ultrasonicated or hydrazine-treated W135P at various concentrations of reactants, pHs, and ionic strengths. The conjugates were characterized by compositional and serologic analyses, high-performance size-exclusion chromatography with multi-angle laser light scattering detection, and immunogenicity in 5- to 6-week-old mice. Conjugates injected subcutaneously in phosphate-buffered saline elicited immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses against their respective CPs and rSEC, whereas GAMP and W135P alone did not induce detectable CP antibodies. The O-acetyl content of W135P was low, and its removal had no adverse effect upon the conjugate's immunogenicity. Reduction of the molecular size of W135P by treatment with hydrazine improved the immunogenicity of W135P-rSEC. IgG anti-CP elicited by the conjugates showed complement-dependent bactericidal activity against their respective organisms, and IgG anti-rSEC neutralized the T-cell proliferative activity of native SEC. A bivalent formulation of GAMP-rSEC and W135P-rSEC elicited IgG anti-CP at comparable levels to those induced by the conjugates administered separately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhigang Jin
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Abstract
International travel and migration facilitate the rapid intercontinental spread of meningococcal disease. Serogroup A, and to a lesser extent serogroup C, have been responsible for pandemics in the past (mainly in Africa), but in recent years there was an international outbreak due to W135 related to the Hajj pilgrimage. The high carriage rates, persistence and transmissibility, in combination with the high case fatality rate of the Hajj-associated W135 outbreak clone, certainly raise considerable concern about the public health consequences of widespread dissemination of this organism and the potential for future epidemics. Indeed, the now evolving W135 epidemic in Africa mandates that the bivalent meningococcal vaccine should be replaced by the tetravalent meningococcal vaccine, covering A, C, Y and W135 serogroups. The currently available polysaccharide tetravalent meningococcal vaccine, albeit associated with high seroconversion and efficacy rates, has several shortcomings: it is not immunogenic in young children, duration of protective immunity is short, and it has minimal or no effect on nasopharyngeal carriage and therefore transmission of the organism. Immunogenicity of polysaccharide vaccines can be improved by chemical conjugation to a protein carrier, thereby eliciting a T-cell-dependent antibody response. In contrast to polysaccharide vaccines, conjugate vaccines are immunogenic in young infants, induce long-term protection, and reduce nasopharyngeal carriage. The tetravalent conjugate vaccine will be a leap forward in the control of meningococcal epidemics in affected countries. It will also boost the uptake of meningococcal vaccines in travelers, because the duration of protection is longer and it eliminates the problem of immune hyporesponsiveness of serogroup C with repeated dosing. The small risk of travel-associated disease for the general traveler and the unpredictable nature of epidemics make it difficult to provide evidence-based vaccine recommendations. The current recommendation is to vaccinate all Hajj pilgrims, travelers to areas with current outbreaks, travelers to the sub-Saharan meningitis belt, and high-risk individuals (i.e., those with immunodeficiencies).
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Maloney SA, Weinberg M. Prevention of infectious diseases among international pediatric travelers: considerations for clinicians. SEMINARS IN PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2004; 15:137-49. [PMID: 15480960 PMCID: PMC7119036 DOI: 10.1053/j.spid.2004.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
An estimated 1.9 million children travel overseas annually. Infectious disease risks associated with international travel are diverse and depend on the destination, planned activities, and baseline medical history. Children have special needs and vulnerabilities that should be addressed when preparing for travel abroad. Children should have a pretravel health assessment that includes recommendations for both routine and special travel-related vaccination; malaria chemoprophylaxis, if indicated; and prevention counseling regarding insect and animal exposures, food and water safety, and avoiding injuries. Special consideration should be given to children with chronic diseases. Families should be given anticipatory guidance for management of potential illnesses and information about the location of medical resources overseas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan A Maloney
- Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, National Center for Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
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