Meningitis A & C Vaccine for Travellers

• Recommended for travellers to sub-Saharan Africa.
• Saudi Arabia requires vaccination of all pilgrims to Mecca during the Hajj or Umrah (using a tetravalent vaccine against types A, C, Y and W135).
• WHO (World Health Organisation) states bacterial Meningitis remains a serious threat to global health, accounting for 171,000 deaths worldwide each year.
• Groups A, B, C, Y and W135 account for 90% of meningococcal infection.
• Meningitis A has been the main cause of epidemic meningococcal disease and still predominates in Africa.
• The vaccine currently used for travel is meningococcal A & C polysaccharide vaccine. The side effects of the vaccine are:

  headache fatigue, fever

  extreme allergic reaction sleepiness

  pain, swelling, redness and hardening of skin at the injection site

• The Department of Health (DH) states that children should not receive Meningitis A & C within 6 months of receiving routine childhood Meningitis C vaccination.
• Even when vaccinated travellers must be on the alert for signs and symptoms of Meningitis in themselves, their families and children.
• Meningitis is a very serious illness requiring hospitalisation.

Meningococcal Vaccine MENOMUNE® (Connaught Labs)

This vaccine contains freeze-dried polysaccharide antigens from Neisseria meningitidis bacteria; also thiomersal (mercury compound) and lactose.

Homeopathic Prophylaxis for Meningitis

Take one dose of Meningococcus 200c every week while travelling in high risk areas in order to help prevent Meningitis. Alternatively, take 3 doses of Belladonna 30c each week if you come into contact with Meningitis during your travels.

References:

• http://www.who.int/topics/meningitis/en/
• http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh4-FluMeningitis.aspx "The Yellow Book"