Pilgrims Pick Up New Meningitis Bacteria After Saudi Trip

A recent study tracked 181 individuals traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah, examining the bacteria that reside in their throats before and after the journey. Swabs from the back of the nose were taken at two key moments: just before departure and after return. Researchers employed a specialized test capable of detecting Neisseria meningitidis and identifying its serogroup.

Key Findings

• Carriage Increase:
• Pre‑travel: 8.2 % of participants carried the bacteria.

• Post‑return: 14.4 %—a statistically significant rise.

• Individual Transitions:
• 28 pilgrims acquired the bacteria after travel.
• Only 9 lost carriage, indicating a >3‑fold higher chance of acquisition.

• Serogroup Distribution:

• New carriers predominantly had serogroups B (15 cases) and X (8 cases)—both not covered by current vaccines.

• Event‑Specific Trends:
• Hajj attendees saw carriage jump from 9.8 % to 18.7 %.
• Umrah group remained relatively stable (5.7 % → 7.2 %).

Implications

The study underscores how large religious gatherings can alter bacterial spread patterns, especially for non‑vaccine serogroups. It highlights the need for:

1. Ongoing surveillance of bacterial carriage among pilgrims.
2. Potential vaccine updates to include serogroups B and X.