The City of New York Department of Health recently issued the following public health alert. As a partner in a regional public health alert network, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services has received this alert from New York City and we are now sharing it with our health and public health partners.

On April 17^th, the City of New York Department of Health, Communicable Disease Program (CDP) was notified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of an outbreak of group W-135 meningococcal infections among pilgrims returning from the Haj in Mecca, and their contacts. So far, there have been reports of 38 cases (including 21 known family contacts) from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. All occurred since March 21, 2000. There have been at least 7 fatalities.

The CDP has identified two recent cases of group W-135 meningococcal disease, one is a returning pilgrim, and the second is a close family contact of a returning pilgrim. These represent the first known American cases associated with this outbreak.

We request that clinicians be aware of the possibility of meningococcal disease among individuals with a recent (since March 1, 2000) history of travel to Mecca, or their household contacts who may not have traveled. All suspect cases should be reported.

Please note that while all pilgrims to Mecca are required to be vaccinated against Neisseria Meningitidis, bivalent vaccines administered overseas do not cover group W-135 strains, and no vaccine eliminates carriage and transmission of the bacterium to household contacts.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Division of Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health Services, Communicable Disease Services at 609-588-7500.

c: Office of Local Health
Medical Society of New Jersey