Meningococcal Meningitis, to give it its full name, is a devastating disease that is potentially fatal and commonly results in significant long-term health issues. It is a bacterial infection that can cause swelling to critical parts of the body, such as the lining of the brain and the spinal cord. As a result of this it is one of the biggest public health challenges across the globe, but there is a much higher risk of contracting meningitis in certain countries across Africa, and these regions are known as the ‘Meningitis Belt’.
Around one in six people who contract bacterial meningitis will die, and one in five will suffer serious complications. While meningitis epidemics can be experienced across the world, they are most common in the Meningitis Belt in Africa, and hence, travel to these regions requires knowledge and understanding of the risks, and preventive measures to protect yourself. For this reason, a meningitis vaccine is the most effective way to ensure long-term protection against the effects of meningitis.
Who is at risk from meningitis?
Meningitis strains are indiscriminate in how they infect people with the virus, meaning anyone, anywhere and at any age can contract meningitis. However, a person’s age and their immune system can influence what pathogens are present, as can living conditions and geographical location.
Different age groups are more at risk from some strains of meningitis than others. Newborn babies, for example, are more at risk from various forms of meningitis because their immune systems are not yet fully developed, but they are particularly at risk from Group B streptococcus, which is a bacterial meningitis. Adolescents and adults are more at risk from other strains, while people who are immunocompromised (i.e. they have an impaired immune system) or who have underlying health conditions, such as HIV for example, also face an increased risk of various different types of meningitis.
Meningitis is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets. The Meningitis Belt, which stretches from Senegal to Ethiopia across the African continent, is seen as experiencing the highest meningitis risk and is exposed to a high possibility of recurring epidemics. This is because the region is particularly vulnerable to high-risk conditions, such as:
- Crowded settings with people gathered in close proximity
- Mass gatherings such as religious or sporting events
- Settings where refugees or displaced people are gathering
- Military camps
- Areas of high migration
The signs and symptoms of meningitis
A person contracting meningitis would not necessarily experience symptoms straight away, and symptoms can appear within a range of minutes to hours of infection. The symptoms can differ based on how the infection was contracted and how quickly it progresses in the body. This will also affect how long the symptoms last and therefore how serious they become and what other complications they cause.
Typically, a person with the infection would experience a sudden onset of fever, which could include headaches, nausea and vomiting. Neck stiffness, confusion and a sensitivity to light are also common symptoms of meningitis. In rare cases, a person may experience seizures, coma and weak limbs.
Infants and babies often exhibit different symptoms to adults, which can be harder to identify and therefore represent a higher risk, such as:
- Being less active, or sleeping longer
- Irritability
- Continuous crying
- Bulging on the soft spot of their head
How to prevent a meningitis infection
Anyone travelling to a high-risk area, and particular in Africa and the ‘Meningitis Belt’, are strongly recommended to get the meningitis vaccine. While you can practice good hand hygiene and wear a face mask, the vaccine provides the most effective protection against contracting the virus and the worst symptoms of the virus. In some areas, entry to the country is subject to a mandatory meningitis vaccination, while it also a requirement for some students attending school or university.
Meningitis can spread from person to person, including people you live with, and given you don’t know who you will be exposed to or in close proximity with, if you are visiting Africa for any reason it is strongly recommended to get the meningitis vaccine as a pre-travel preventive measure. We can administer a full programme of vaccinations, so for effective protection get the meningitis vaccine in Bromley from the Travel Clinic Bromley.
Book a meningitis vaccination in Bromley
There are several different strains of meningitis, but the meningitis vaccine offered by Travel Clinic Bromley is designed to protect against the most harmful strains. There is no vaccine that effectively protects someone from every possible strain, but undergoing a full meningitis vaccination from the Travel Clinic Bromley gives you the best possible chance of preventing the worst symptoms of meningitis.
A meningitis strain known as A was identified as accounting for 80-85% of meningitis cases found in the African Meningitis Belt. The World Health Organisation recently approved and recommended a vaccine which protects people against the most common strains found in Africa, which is A, C, W and Y. This is why Travel Clinic Bromley strongly recommends the meningitis ACWY vaccine for any travellers visiting Africa.
You can book a travel consultation with us to discuss your travel arrangements and what you should do to fully protect yourself, and you can book a meningitis vaccination in Bromley with us today.
