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. 2003 Jun;9(6):665-71.
doi: 10.3201/eid0906.020565.

Serogroup W-135 meningococcal disease during the Hajj, 2000

Jairam R Lingappa  1 , Abdullah M Al-Rabeah, Rana Hajjeh, Tajammal Mustafa, Adel Fatani, Tami Al-Bassam, Amira Badukhan, Abdulhafiz Turkistani, Sahar Makki, Nassen Al-Hamdan, Mohamed Al-Jeffri, Yaqoub Al Mazrou, Bradley A Perkins, Tonja Popovic, Leonard W Mayer, Nancy E Rosenstein
Affiliations

Serogroup W-135 meningococcal disease during the Hajj, 2000

Jairam R Lingappa et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2003 Jun.

Erratum in

  • Emerg Infect Dis. 2003 Aug;9(8):1028

Abstract

An outbreak of serogroup W-135 meningococcal disease occurred during the 2000 Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Disease was reported worldwide in Hajj pilgrims and their close contacts; however, most cases were identified in Saudi Arabia. Trends in Saudi meningococcal disease were evaluated and the epidemiology of Saudi cases from this outbreak described. Saudi national meningococcal disease incidence data for 1990 to 2000 were reviewed; cases from January 24 to June 5, 2000, were retrospectively reviewed. The 2000 Hajj outbreak consisted of distinct serogroup A and serogroup W-135 outbreaks. Of 253 identified cases in Saudi Arabia, 161 (64%) had serogroup identification; serogroups W-135 and A caused 93 (37%) and 60 (24%) cases with attack rates of 9 and 6 cases per 100,000 population, respectively. The 2000 Hajj outbreak was the first large serogroup W-135 meningococcal disease outbreak identified worldwide. Enhanced surveillance for serogroup W-135, especially in Africa, is essential to control this emerging epidemic disease.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Meningococcal disease in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by month, 1995–2000. Cases of meningococcal disease with dates converted from Islamic calendar months. The period of the Hajj pilgrimage for each year is underscored.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Meningococcal disease during the 2000 Hajj: Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina, January 24–June 5, 2000. 
The number of cases of serogroup-specific meningococcal disease is shown by date. The duration of the 2000 Hajj is indicated.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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