Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) is a serious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. The bacteria can spread through the body causing serious illness and will become chronic if not immediately treated.
Annual data collected by the World Health Organization (WHO) on reported cases and incidences of Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) show that three cases of the disease had appeared in Maldives over the last six years.
Two of these cases were reported amid the previous year. The most recent case of the disease was confirmed by Health Protection Agency (HPA) last night. While no official sources have confirmed who the third patient is, local reports suggest that Maldivian football legend and former midfielder of the Maldivian national team Mohamed Arif (Baka), had tested positive for the disease. The footballer passed away last evening while receiving treatment in the ICU of ADK for what reports have described as high fever and flu like symptoms three days after his return from Hajj pilgrimage.
According to Dr Mohamed Ali, Founder of Maldives Association for Health, meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. The bacteria causes two types of meningococcal infections which are meningococcal meningitis and meningococcal septicemia.
Dr Mohamed Ali warns both the infections are serious and can be deadly in a matter of hours, however, assured that vaccination prevents getting contraction of the disease.
Symptoms of meningococcal disease can first appear as a flu-like illness and rapidly worsen.
Those who are deemed as "close contacts" have a higher chance of being infected with symptoms typically appearing 1-10 days after being infected.
The world 'meninges' refers to the three membranes surrounding the central nervous system which protects the brain and the spinal cord. Membranes are a selective thin layer of tissue which guards the contents inside the tissue. The term 'meningitis' was coined in the early 1800s combining the word 'meninges' and 'itis', a medical term for inflammation.
With a meningococcal septicemia infection, the bacteria enter the blood and damage the walls of the blood vessels. This causes bleeding in the skin and organs, according to the Center of Disease Control (CDC).
Symptoms of this infection include:
- Fever and chills
- Loose bowels/Vomiting/Nausea
- Fatigue
- Cold hands and feet
- Rapid breathing
- Severe aches or pain in muscles, joints, chest or stomach
- Red spots or rashes on body
With meningococcal meningitis infection, the bacteria affect the meninges and causes acute inflammation of the tissue and fluids.
Symptoms of this infection include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Stiff neck which reduces ability to flex the neck forward or downwards (nuchal rigidity)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion and disorientation
- Sensitivity to bright lights
Dr Mohamed Ali explained that once the disease reaches a chronic stage, small red pinpricks will begin appearing around the body before developing into non-blanching red, purple or brownish purpura rashes that rapidly increase in size and spread further around the body.
Meningococcal bacteria are spread to others through respiratory secretions (saliva or spit). The disease can also be transferred through use of a platter, water glass, spoon, lipsticks and toothbrushes of an infected patient. Anyone who was in close proximity or lengthy contact with a patient can be considered as a "close contact".
- People who live in the same house as the patient
- Children under 1 years of age
- People aged between 16 and 23 years
- People with weak immune systems (Patients of diseases such as HIV and cancer)
- People who take certain types of medication (such as Soliris /Eculizumab or Ravulizumab)
- People who have travelled with a patient for a long duration in an airplane or bus
- People who may have been close enough to the patient to have come in contact with their nasal liquid or saliva
- People who frequent crowds or gatherings
Although at risk of contracting the disease, those who have consumed water from the same bottle and shared meals with the patient, or those who came in contact with the patient for a short duration, and those who have come into contact with a contact of the patient will not be considered "close contacts".
Vaccination prevents getting infected with IMD and typically requires about two weeks (14 days) to build up immunity to the disease from the day of getting vaccinated. As such, pilgrims travelling for Hajj or Umrah are advised to administer the vaccine at least two weeks before their departure.
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