Meningitis deaths hit pilgrims

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Meningitis deaths hit pilgrims
BrKhalid
04/20/01 at 09:38:04
Asalaamu Alailkum


Meningitis deaths hit pilgrims


Seven people have died in the UK following an outbreak of meningitis believed to have been carried by pilgrims returning from Makkah.

So far, there have been 29 confirmed cases, one-third among pilgrims themselves and the rest in people who have come into contact with them since their return.

The UK authorities have issued an alert warning GPs to be watchful for more cases, particularly in the Muslim community.

The W135 strain of meningococcal bacteria responsible for the outbreak is not found in this country, but is prevalent in Saudi Arabia.

It is the same strain responsible for a separate outbreak following last year's Hajj pilgrimage.

On that occasion, there were 13 cases and four deaths.

Vaccines ineffective

Normal immunisation against meningitis is ineffective, but a quadrivalent vaccine which covers the strain has been made available to prospective Hajj pilgrims.

However, the Public Health Laboratory Service estimates that uptake prior to this year's pilgrimage was poor, with only one in two people receiving the vaccine.

[I guess we need to tell our brothers and sisters who want to go next year about this]


Performing the pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime is considered one of the five central duties of Islamic life.

Approximately 2m are thought to have converged on the city of Makkah in February and March 2001.

Dr Pat Troop, deputy chief medical officer, who circulated the warning to doctors, said: "This number exceeds the total number of cases in association with last year's Hajj.

"General practitioners and accident and emergency departments should be alert to the diagnosis of meningococcal infection in pilgrims themselves, but also in those who may have been in contact with pilgrims returning from this year's Hajj."

She recommended that any suspicion of meningitis should lead to rapid treatment with powerful antibiotics.

Meningococcal disease, in which bacteria invade the bloodstream, can kill within hours unless diagnosed and treated.

In many cases, the bacteria live harmlessly in the back of the throat, and doctors are unsure what factors might trigger the infection and disease.

The first noticeable symptoms are the trademark purple or red rash, which does not fade when pressed with the side of a glass, a high fever, a stiff neck and aversion to light.

Patients may also suffer a severe headache and vomiting.

[url] http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1283000/1283273.stm [/url]
Re: Meningitis deaths hit pilgrims
jannah
04/20/01 at 11:03:49
In order to get a visa you have to have had the meningitis vaccination. I don't know why they didn't? unless the hajj requirements are different for UK-ers
Re: Meningitis deaths hit pilgrims
BrKhalid
04/20/01 at 11:08:45
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-)

Nope it’s the same procedure over here in the UK

What's happened here is that the vaccine given is not sufficient and a stronger one is needed, but most Hajjis were ignorant of this before they left.

[quote] Normal immunisation against meningitis is ineffective, but a quadrivalent vaccine which covers the strain has been made available to prospective Hajj pilgrims.

However, the Public Health Laboratory Service estimates that uptake prior to this year's pilgrimage was poor, with only one in two people receiving the vaccine.


[/quote]
Re: Meningitis deaths hit pilgrims
muhannad
04/20/01 at 14:14:22
Allahu akbar, you know I was actually talking with a brother about the issue of cross infection control today after jumu'ah (he is a specialist registrar).  I was talking about the dangers of AIDS/hep B transmission via the barbers who shave peoples heads with the same razors.  

Please if any of you guys do Hajj/Umrah MAKE SURE the razor is fresh out of the packet, otherwise go elsewhere

ps. the last point is for males, :)


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