Foreign Office issues health alert after serious disease found in UK travellers

The Foreign Office has issued a warning following the detection of a severe illness in individuals returning to the UK. Three instances of meningococcal disease have been reported, according to Travel Health Pro, a subdivision of the government department.

A dozen incidents involving invasive meningococcal disease have been recorded - four in France, five in the United States until May 17, almost all cases were involved in the Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The majority of these cases are associated with meningococcus serogroup W, with no vaccination history.

They stated: "For pilgrims visiting the Hajj and Umrah zones in KSA who are vaccinated with the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine, the likelihood of infection is low, as they are protected thanks to vaccine-induced immunity. For unvaccinated pilgrims visiting these sites, the likelihood of infection is moderate."

Doctors are being alerted to look out for signs of meningitis in returning travellers, particularly if the individual has recently visited Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage. If there is a suspicion of infection, the person should be isolated, any close contacts identified and monitored for at least 10 days from the last possible exposure.

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