What is meningococcal disease? UK issues health warning about potentially deadly condition

People in the UK are being urged to remain alert after 14 cases of meningococcal disease were detected among travellers returning from Saudi Arabia.

According to Travel Health Pro, three cases of the potentially deadly disease were detected in the UK, while other cases were recorded in the US, France, Norway, and the Netherlands.

The health advisory site, backed by the Foreign Office, added that the infected people were returning from the famous Hajj pilgrimage. This is an annual religious event for Muslims in Mecca.

Meningococcal disease has a fatality rate of around 15 per cent.

Triggered by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, the disease can develop into meningitis, septicemia, and pneumonia.

Saudi Arabia has specified that anyone attending the Hajj over two years old must hold a “valid vaccination certificate with a quadrivalent (ACYW) meningococcal vaccine administered not less than 10 days prior to the planned arrival to Saudi Arabia.”

Here’s everything you need to know about meningococcal disease.

What is meningococcal disease?

Around 10 per cent of people in the UK are believed to carry N. meningitidis naturally in their throats and nasal cavities. It is spread through coughing, kissing, sneezing, and other close contact.

The bacterium is harmless unless it enters the bloodstream, where it can multiply very quickly and turn into meningococcal disease. This is the name for a combination of life-threatening blood-related illnesses, including meningitis.

Although it can impact anyone, it is most common in babies and young children.

When a person develops meningococcal disease, the early symptoms are often mistaken for other less serious things such as a headache, fever, or flu. However, symptoms can quickly worsen as the disease progresses, meaning it is important to act fast.

As the bacterium travels through the bloodstream, it can lead to health complications such as meningitis, which impacts the brain. A lot of people do recover, but one in 10 will be left with a disability such as a lost limb.

Is meningococcal disease common in the UK?

The Meningitis Research Foundation says meningococcal disease is rare and affects around 2,000 people in the UK annually.

It adds that only a small fraction of people with the bacterium will suffer a severe illness.

What are the first signs of meningococcal disease?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US, the first signs of meningococcal disease include fever, headache, and stiff neck. These symptoms often accompany confusion, nausea, sensitivity to light, and vomiting.

It is hard to spot some of these symptoms in babies, so the CDC also offers another list of signs to look out for in youngsters, such as being slow or inactive, irritable, not eating, bulging anterior fontanelle (the soft spot of the skull), or abnormal reflexes.

It is considered a medical emergency, so seek expert advice immediately if you suspect meningococcal disease.

What is the difference between meningitis and meningococcal?

"Meningitis" refers to inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can be caused by various pathogens — including viruses, bacteria, and fungi — and sometimes by non-infectious factors such as certain medications or autoimmune diseases.

"Meningococcal" specifically refers to a type of bacterial meningitis caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus. This bacterium is a common cause of bacterial meningitis worldwide.