Heightened Health Alert For Pilgrims Returning From Mecca

Travelers returning from a religious pilgrimage in Mecca face heightened risks as an urgent health alert for Meningitis W has been issued in the UK.

Quick Takes

UK travelers to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah should get the MenACWY vaccine.
5 cases of MenW were confirmed in early 2025 in returning pilgrims.
Meningococcal disease can be fatal or cause lifelong disabilities.
Vaccination certificates are required for entry into Saudi Arabia.

Essential Vaccination Advisory

Amidst rising concerns over the spread of meningitis W, UK health officials have warned pilgrims returning from Mecca to be particularly vigilant. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) urges travelers attending Umrah and Hajj to protect themselves with the MenACWY vaccine. Recent outbreaks have prompted authorities to stress the vaccine’s significance. The potential severity of Meningitis W, which can result in conditions as serious as meningitis and septicemia, underscores this advisory.

In the early part of 2025, five confirmed cases of MenW disease among UK returnees or their contacts have highlighted the immediate need for this preventive measure. Health officials have underlined that if left untreated, the bacterial infection can escalate rapidly, often mimicking severe flu symptoms.

Symptoms and Immediate Action

Travelers are encouraged to remain vigilant for symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, and neck stiffness during and post-travel. These can initially appear flu-like but may progress quickly to serious conditions like septicemia. In such instances, emergency medical care is crucial within the first 14 days of noticing symptoms to prevent irreversible consequences or even fatality.

According to Dr. Shamez Ladhani, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, “The MenACWY vaccination is essential for pilgrims travelling to KSA for Umrah and Hajj, particularly given recent cases among UK returnees and their families. Meningococcal disease can be fatal and may leave survivors with serious lifelong conditions, including hearing loss, brain damage, and limb amputations.”

For those embarking on these significant religious pilgrimages, the MenACWY vaccine not only serves as a health safeguard but is also a mandatory requirement enforced by Saudi Arabia. Participants must carry a valid certificate, with health authorities insisting it be issued within a stipulated timeframe, depending on the type of vaccine.

Preventive Measures for Travelers

The combination of large gatherings typical of the pilgrimages, tight accommodation settings, and enclosed transit environments inherently raises the risk of infectious diseases. Health experts also advise practicing good hygiene to mitigate these risks. This advisory extends to avoiding interactions with camels and raw animal products to guard against other possible infections like MERS-CoV.

“During Hajj and Umrah, millions of people gather in very close proximity, in accommodation sites and on public transport. This means that there is a much higher risk of contracting infectious diseases such as meningitis, which is a serious illness. We highly recommend that everyone going on Hajj and Umrah receive their MenACWY vaccine, which could protect them and their loved ones back home,” said current president of the British Islamic Medical Association, Dr. Sahira Dar.

The ongoing MenW outbreak and the recent cases reported among Umrah pilgrims reaffirm the World Health Organization’s and NaTHNaC’s push for vaccination. Free access to the MenACWY vaccine is available for eligible youth in the UK, with options for others to access it through private health services.