MUSLIM pilgrims taking part in the annual journey to Mecca and Medina should receive comprehensive meningitis vaccinations beforehand.
That鈥檚 the recommendation of researchers studying pilgrims from Singapore who made the pilgrimage or 鈥渉ajj鈥� in 2001. Annelies Wilder-Smith and colleagues at Tan Tock Seng Hospital in Singapore took mouth swabs from 204 pilgrims. Only one carried meningitis bacteria before the hajj, but on their return, 17 per cent were infected (British Medical Journal, vol 325, p 365). The infected travellers passed the bacteria on to nearly 10 per cent of their relatives at home. 鈥淭he hajj is a particularly high risk due to overcrowded conditions,鈥�