Hepatitis A is a viral infection transmitted through contaminated food and water or by direct contact with an infectious person. Symptoms are often mild or absent in young children, but the disease can be more serious with advancing age. Recovery can vary from weeks to months. Following hepatitis A infection immunity is lifelong.

Prevention
All travellers should take care with personal, food and water hygiene.

Hepatitis A vaccination
Vaccination is recommended for those whose activities put them at increased risk. This includes:

• those who are staying with or visiting the local population.
• frequent and/or long-stay travellers to areas where sanitation and food hygiene are likely to be poor.
• adventure travellers visiting rural areas and staying in basic accommodation such as backpackers.
• those with existing medical conditions such as liver disease or haemophilia.
• men who have sex with men.
• people who inject drugs.
• those who may be exposed to the virus through their work.
• those going to areas of hepatitis A outbreaks who have limited access to safe water and medical care.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection; it is transmitted by exposure to infected blood or body fluids. This mostly occurs during sexual contact or as a result of blood-to-blood contact (for example from contaminated equipment during medical and dental procedures, tattooing or body piercing procedures, and sharing of intravenous needles). Mothers with the virus can also transmit the infection to their baby during childbirth.

Hepatitis B in Saudi Arabia
2% or more of the population are known or thought to be persistently infected with the hepatitis B virus (intermediate/high prevalence).

Prevention
Travellers should avoid contact with blood or body fluids. This includes:

• avoiding unprotected sexual intercourse.
• avoiding tattooing, piercing, public shaving, and acupuncture (unless sterile equipment is used).
• not sharing needles or other injection equipment.
• following universal precautions if working in a medical/dental/high risk setting.

A sterile medical equipment kit may be helpful when travelling to resource poor areas.

Hepatitis B vaccination
Vaccination could be considered for all travellers, and is recommended for those whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk including:

• those who may have unprotected sex.
• those who may be exposed to contaminated needles through injecting drug use.
• those who may be exposed to blood or body fluids through their work (e.g. health workers).
• those who may be exposed to contaminated needles as a result of having medical or dental care e.g. those with pre-existing medical conditions and those travelling for medical care abroad including
• those intending to receive renal dialysis overseas.
• long-stay travellers.
• those who are participating in contact sports.
• families adopting children from this country.

For Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and seasonal workers to this area, proof of vaccination with a meningococcal ACWY vaccine is a visa requirement for entry.

Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by inhaling respiratory droplets or direct contact with respiratory secretions from an infected person. This is usually following prolonged or frequent close contact. The most common forms of meningococcal disease are meningococcal meningitis (infection of the protective lining around the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning).

Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and seasonal workers at the pilgrimages are at increased risk due to the crowded conditions and possible close contact with people from countries with higher rates of meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal disease in Saudi Arabia
Outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis were reported in 1987, 2000 and 2001 during the Hajj.

Prevention
Travellers may reduce their risk by avoiding overcrowded situations where possible.

Meningococcal disease vaccination
For pilgrims and seasonal workers proof of vaccination with a meningococcal ACWY vaccine is a visa requirement for entry. When the meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccine is used, this should be given at least 10 days before, and within the last 5 years of planned travel. Details of the vaccine name and type (i.e. conjugate vaccine) should be recorded in a patient held vaccine record showing the traveller’s full name. It is advisable that this vaccination record is issued by the traveller’s doctor, nurse or pharmacist and should reflect accurately details of the vaccine administered and be authenticated with the healthcare providers official stamp.

Pilgrims and seasonal workers must carry vaccination certificates with them for inspection by the Saudi Authority at port of entry.

The meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccine is recommended. If a polysaccharide ACWY vaccine has been administered previously (no longer available in UK) it should have been administered within the last 3 years of planned travel.

Rabies is a viral infection which is usually transmitted following contact with the saliva of an infected animal most often via a bite, scratch or lick to an open wound or mucous membrane (such as on the eye, nose or mouth). Although many different animals can transmit the virus, most cases follow a bite or scratch from an infected dog. In some parts of the world, bats are an important source of infection.

Rabies symptoms can take some time to develop, but when they do, the condition is almost always fatal.

The risk of exposure is increased by certain activities and length of stay (see below). Children are at increased risk as they are less likely to avoid contact with animals and to report a bite, scratch or lick.

Rabies in Saudi Arabia
Rabies is considered a risk and has been reported in domestic animals in this country. Bats may also carry rabies-like viruses.

Prevention
Travellers should avoid contact with all animals. Rabies is preventable with prompt post-exposure treatment.
Following a possible exposure, wounds should be thoroughly cleansed and an urgent local medical assessment sought, even if the wound appears trivial.
Post-exposure treatment and advice should be in accordance with national guidelines.

Rabies vaccination
A full course of pre-exposure vaccines simplifies and shortens the course of post-exposure treatment and removes the need for rabies immunoglobulin which is in short supply world-wide.

Pre-exposure vaccinations are recommended for travellers whose activities put them at increased risk including:

• those at risk due to their work (e.g. laboratory staff working with the virus,
• those working with animals or health workers who may be caring for infected patients).
• those travelling to areas where access to post-exposure treatment and medical care is limited.
• those planning higher risk activities such as running or cycling.
• long-stay travellers (more than one month).