Meningococcal Meningitis: Symptoms, Travel Risks and Hajj Vaccine Requirements

In short: Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning) and can become life-threatening within hours. The main groups are A, B, C, W and Y. In the UK, babies are offered MenB vaccine and teenagers MenACWY, and travellers to higher-risk areas such as the African "meningitis belt", or pilgrims to Hajj and Umrah, may need MenACWY before they go. Saudi Arabia requires proof of MenACWY vaccination for pilgrims.

This guide, written by a Ready Health prescribing pharmacist and based on UKHSA, NaTHNaC (TravelHealthPro) and NHS guidance, explains the symptoms to watch for, who is at risk and which vaccines are recommended.

What is meningococcal disease?

It is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, which many people carry harmlessly in the back of the nose and throat. Occasionally it invades the body and causes:

• meningitis – inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord
• septicaemia – a severe bloodstream infection that can lead to shock and organ damage

Many people have both. The bacteria spread through close, prolonged contact, such as living in the same household, kissing, or sharing crowded living spaces. Around 1 in 10 people with meningococcal disease die, and a significant proportion of survivors are left with long-term effects such as hearing loss, brain injury or limb loss.

What are the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia?

Symptoms usually appear 2 to 7 days after exposure and can develop very quickly. They can appear in any order and not everyone gets all of them:

• high temperature, cold hands and feet
• vomiting, severe headache
• stiff neck and dislike of bright lights
• drowsiness, confusion or difficulty waking
• a rash that does not fade when a glass is pressed against it (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin, so check paler areas such as the palms or inside the eyelids)
• seizures

Do not wait for a rash. If you suspect meningitis or septicaemia, call 999 or go to A&E immediately; abroad, seek emergency care. Early antibiotics save lives.

Where is meningococcal disease a travel risk?

• The African "meningitis belt" – the savannah region of sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, where outbreaks mainly occur during the dry season (roughly December to June).
• Hajj and Umrah – mass gatherings in Saudi Arabia have been linked to outbreaks; in 2025, WHO reported cases in several countries linked to Umrah travel.
• Outbreak areas elsewhere, which are listed on TravelHealthPro.

Risk is higher for long-stay travellers with close contact with local people, healthcare workers, people visiting friends and relatives, and those without a working spleen or with certain immune conditions.

Which meningococcal vaccines are used in the UK?

From July 2025, the separate Hib/MenC dose at one year is no longer given to children born on or after 1 July 2024, because the teenage MenACWY programme gives strong protection against group C. Group B now causes most cases in the UK, as a cluster of MenB cases in Kent in early 2026 showed.

For travel, a single dose of MenACWY is usually given from age one, with two doses for babies under one. Several MenACWY products are licensed in the UK with different minimum ages, and your clinician will choose the appropriate one.

What are the Hajj and Umrah vaccine requirements?

Saudi Arabia requires pilgrims aged one year and over to show proof of quadrivalent (ACWY) meningococcal vaccination to obtain a visa. Current requirements state that:

• a conjugate ACWY vaccine must have been given within the last five years (polysaccharide vaccines, valid for three years, are no longer available in the UK)
• the vaccine must be given at least 10 days before arrival
• the certificate should state the vaccine name and type, and ideally be signed and stamped by the vaccinating clinician

Requirements can change each year, so check the latest Saudi Ministry of Health guidance and the TravelHealthPro Hajj and Umrah factsheet before you book.

Frequently asked questions

I had MenACWY at school. Do I need it again for Hajj?

If your last conjugate MenACWY dose was more than five years before travel, you will need another dose to meet Saudi visa requirements.

Do students need the meningitis vaccine before university?

The NHS offers MenACWY to first-time university students up to age 25 who missed it at school. Contact your GP practice before you start.

Does MenACWY protect against MenB?

No. MenB is a different vaccine. Neither vaccine protects against every cause of meningitis, so it is important to know the symptoms.

How long before travel should I have MenACWY?

Ideally at least two weeks before travel, and at least 10 days before arrival for Hajj or Umrah.

Key takeaways

• Meningococcal disease can kill within hours; seek emergency care urgently if you suspect it.
• The UK schedule includes MenB for babies and MenACWY for teenagers.
• MenACWY is advised for some travellers and required for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
• Saudi rules require a conjugate ACWY vaccine within five years and at least 10 days before arrival.

Sources and further reading

• TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC): Meningococcal disease
• TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC): Hajj and Umrah factsheet
• UKHSA Green Book, Chapter 22: Meningococcal
• NHS: Meningitis

Last reviewed: October 2026 by Shamir Patel, Independent Prescribing Pharmacist, Ready Health. This article is general information and does not replace advice from your own clinician.

Preparing for Hajj, Umrah or travel to sub-Saharan Africa? Ready Health in Standish offers travel health consultations for people in Wigan, Chorley, Horwich and Bolton. A clinician will review your itinerary and vaccination history and advise what is appropriate. Book a travel health consultation or call 01257 676001.