{Excerpts} Situation at a glance On 13 March 2025, the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) reported 11 cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) to WHO. Additionally, between 11 February and 18 March 2025 , the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional IHR contact point received reports of six isolated cases of IMD , either through notification or bilateral communication with IHR NFPs. These cases involve individuals who had recently returned from Umrah . Meningococcal disease remains a global public health concern, particularly in the context of mass gathering events such as Hajj and Umrah . The government of Saudi Arabia regularly issues health requirements for Hajj and Umrah, including vaccination policies. As of 10 March 2025, KSA health authorities estimated that only 54% of international Umrah pilgrims had complied with the meningococcal vaccination requirements . The significant number of pilgrims traveling to KSA ...
Media Monitoring for Signals about Emerging Threats