Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis among travelers attending the Hajj pilgrimage, circulating serogroups, sequence types and antimicrobial susceptibility: A multinational longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Travel to international mass gatherings such as the Hajj pilgrimage increases the risk of Neisseria meningitidis transmission and meningococcal disease. We investigated carriage and acquisition of N. meningitidis among travelers to Hajj and determined circulating serogroups, sequence types and antibiotic susceptibility among isolates.

Gastrointestinal symptoms and knowledge and practice of pilgrims regarding food and water safety during the 2019 Hajj mass gathering.

Background: Food and water-borne diseases (FWBDs) are a health risk at the Hajj mass gathering. The current study documented the prevalence and management of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms among pilgrims during the 2019 Hajj and assessed their knowledge and practice concerning food and water safety.

Method: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Macca, Saudi Arabia, among adult Hajj pilgrims from 28 countries.