Ahead of Hajj, CDC alerts doctors to look out for meningococcal disease tied to travel to Saudi Arabia

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising doctors to be vigilant for cases of meningococcal disease related to travel to Saudi Arabia. Since April, there have been 12 confirmed cases of the disease among individuals who traveled for Umrah, an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. Five cases were reported in the US, four in France, and three in the UK. Meningococcal disease is highly contagious and can lead to severe health problems or even death. The number of cases in the US has been increasing, with 143 cases reported by the end of March. The disease can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early.