Absence of Neisseria meningitidis W-135 Electrophoretic Type 37 during the Hajj, 2002

We document the absence of carriage of Neisseria meningitidis W-135 of the sequence type 11 in returning pilgrims after the Hajj 2002.This finding contrasts with the 15% carriage rate we previously reported whirlwind multi selector in pilgrims returning from the Hajj 2001.The epidemiology of carriage may be changing or may have been controlled by vaccination and a policy of administering antibiotics crewman talc to pilgrims from countries with a high incidence of meningococcal disease.