Table of contents:
- Meningococcal meningitis is an endemic disease in Saudi Arabia
- What does meningococcal meningitis look like?
- When should meningitis injections for Umrah and Hajj be done?
It is important to have a health check before going to worship in the holy land. However worshiping with thousands of people from around the world can increase your risk of contracting a disease. All Hajj and Umrah participants are required to have an International Vaccine Certificate to show that they have injected the meningitis vaccine. Find out how important it is to get the meningitis vaccine before Hajj and Umrah through this review.
Meningococcal meningitis is an endemic disease in Saudi Arabia
Meningitis is still a threat to both Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Saudi Arabia, is one of the countries where meningococcal meningitis develops. This disease causes inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.
During the Hajj and Umrah seasons, Muslims from all over come to Saudi Arabia to perform their prayers. Many Hajj and Umrah pilgrims come from countries on the African continent which are the places where meningitis spreads.
According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health, this is suspected to be the cause of the increasing number of meningitis cases in congregations in Saudi Arabia. Meningitis cases in Indonesian pilgrims occurred in 1987, when at that time there were 99 people who contracted meningitis and 40 of them died.
In fact, in order to be able to perform Hajj or Umrah optimally, excellent body health is needed. Therefore, to prevent meningococcal meningitis, every Indonesian citizen who wants to go to Saudi Arabia needs to have a meningococcal vaccine injection.
Giving meningitis injection is an absolute requirement for all prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
What does meningococcal meningitis look like?
Meningitis occurs due to inflammation of the meninges membrane that protects the brain and spinal cord. This disease can be caused by various infections ranging from viruses, batteries to parasites and can be passed from one person to another.
Meningitis can be transmitted through the respiratory tract or by droplets of saliva that enter through the mouth or are inhaled. It is easier to get meningitis in a crowd that allows you to interact closely with other people.
Meningococcal meningitis is meningitis caused by a bacterial infection Neisseria meningitidis or Meningococcal. How dangerous is meningococcal meningitis so that injecting meningitis for Umrah and Hajj is needed as a prevention?
Before reaching the meninges membrane, Meningococcal bacteria first infect the blood vessels causing septicemia. The bacteria will damage the blood vessels, cause bleeding, and multiply, then spread to the lining of the meninges. This bacterial infection then causes swelling of the lining of the meninges.
However, the symptoms can be difficult to detect because they can appear suddenly. The incubation period for this disease is 3-4 days (span of 2-10 days). Even though the initial symptoms appeared, they felt almost the same as the flu.
You need to watch out for symptoms of meningitis such as stiff neck, severe headache, nausea and vomiting. As explained, bacteria can infect blood vessels and cause bleeding. Therefore, a symptom of a rash in the form of red spots, which are blood coming out of infected blood vessels, can also appear on the skin.
When should meningitis injections for Umrah and Hajj be done?
Meningitis injection for Umrah and Hajj is carried out a maximum of two weeks before departure to the holy land. This is because the effectiveness of the meningitis vaccine will begin to form for 10-14 days after administration.
The type of meningitis vaccine required by the government of Saudi Arabia is Meningococcal ACWY-135. This vaccine can form antibodies against bacteria Neisseria meningitidis groups A, C, W, and Y. Meningitis injection can be done at a designated hospital or health center or the Port Health Office (KKP).
After receiving a meningitis vaccination, the prospective congregation will be given an International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) card as a condition of obtaining a visa permit from the Government of Saudi Arabia.
For more details, the terms and conditions for meningitis injection for Umrah and Hajj participants include:
- All prospective pilgrims and umrah participants must accept one dose Polysaccharide quadrivalent vaccine (MPSV4) or conjugate disease vaccine (MCV4), namely Meningococcal ACW-135.
- This vaccine is recommended done 2-3 weeks before departure, and not less than 10 days before. If you have previously had the same vaccine, make sure that the time it was administered is no more than three years earlier.
- If given to adults and children over five years of age, this vaccine will provide protection from meningitis for five years.
- For children under five years of age, vaccination will provide protection for 2-3 years. However, giving to toddlers aged two months to three years must be followed by giving the second vaccine at three months thereafter.
- This Meningococcal ACW-135 vaccine not allowed to be given to babies less than 2 months old.
Severe side effects after ACWY vaccine administration are very rare. About 10 percent of people who receive this vaccine experience pain and redness that generally goes away within 1-2 days. Meanwhile, children sometimes experience fever.
In addition to the mandatory meningitis vaccine, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health also advised pilgrims to get influenza injections and pneumonia vaccines before leaving.
