Meningokokus Infection Can Cause Fatal In 24 Hours, Vaccination Becomes Main Protection

JAKARTA - Ahead of the Hajj and Umrah season next year, education about infection diseases such as meningitis to invasively corroborating (IMD) which has the potential to spread in areas with large crowds is again important to pay attention to.

Diseases caused by these bacteria can occur very quickly, especially in dense environments such as dormitories, places of worship, mass transportation, and other public facilities.

The disease is known as one of the serious infections that can attack the nervous system and in certain cases develops rapidly to cause a medical emergency within 24 hours.

What makes it even more worrying is it is in nature that knows no age limit. Babies, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly share the same risk of being infected, especially when the immune system decreases or is in a densely interacting environment.

Immunology Consultant Internal Medicine Specialist, Suzy Maria, explained that the meningokokus was caused by the neisseria meningitidis bacteria.

According to him, although deadly, this bacteria can be in the human body without causing any symptoms in the long term.

"Even healthy young people can become carriers and infect others," said Suzy during a health discussion with Kalventis in Jakarta, recently.

Generally transmission can occur through splashes of respiratory fluids when coughing or sneezing or commonly called droplets and also close contact for a long time such as during worship in the Holy Land. In addition to Umrah or Hajj pilgrims, infections are found in groups that often gather in closed places, for example students who live in dormitories or military members.

Meningkous bacteria can infect a person when the immune system weakens or irritation occurs in the mucus membrane, this bacteria can also enter the bloodstream.

If it has spread, bacteria can reach various important organs and trigger severe infections such as meningitis, pneumonia, or invasive meingocusing diseases. Initial signs often resemble common infections, such as high fever, severe headache, and neck stiffness.

"The symptoms are similar to ordinary diseases and even difficult to detect if infected, they break down. Some of the symptoms that look like high fever, nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Even if they are not treated within 24 hours the impact can be fatal (died), because they trigger various disorders, or even defects," explained Suzy.

According to him, babies and the elderly are the most vulnerable groups because their immune system has not yet been fully formed or has begun to weaken.

Given the fast-growing and hard-to-recognizable nature of the infection in the early stages, vaccination is a recommended preventive measure, especially for pilgrims, Umrah, students living in dormitories (outside), military members, or anyone traveling to the meningitis belt region, namely endemic areas in Africa. Sub-Sahara and dense travel destination countries such as Saudi Arabia. According to Suzy, the latest generation of meningitis vaccines are considered capable of providing long-term protection as well as reducing the risk of a person becoming a carrier of a symptomless bacteria (carrier). "The vaccines of the latest generation conjugate meningitis can reduce the risk of carriers and protect in the long term because the composition of their components can strengthen the immune system over time," he stressed.

Given the fast-growing and hard-to-recognizable nature of the infection in the early stages, vaccination is a recommended preventive measure, especially for pilgrims, Umrah, students living in dormitories (outside), military members, or anyone traveling to the meningitis belt region, namely endemic areas in Africa. Sub-Sahara and dense travel destination countries such as Saudi Arabia. According to Suzy, the latest generation of meningitis vaccines are considered capable of providing long-term protection as well as reducing the risk of a person becoming a carrier of a symptomless bacteria (carrier). "The vaccines of the latest generation conjugate meningitis can reduce the risk of carriers and protect in the long term because the composition of their components can strengthen the immune system over time," he stressed.

Given the fast-growing and hard-to-recognizable nature of the infection in the early stages, vaccination is a recommended preventive measure, especially for pilgrims, Umrah, students living in dormitories (outside), military members, or anyone traveling to the meningitis belt region, namely endemic areas in Africa. Sub-Sahara and dense travel destination countries such as Saudi Arabia. According to Suzy, the latest generation of meningitis vaccines are considered capable of providing long-term protection as well as reducing the risk of a person becoming a carrier of a symptomless bacteria (carrier). "The vaccines of the latest generation conjugate meningitis can reduce the risk of carriers and protect in the long term because the composition of their components can strengthen the immune system over time," he stressed.

Given the fast-growing and hard-to-recognizable nature of the infection in the early stages, vaccination is a recommended preventive measure, especially for pilgrims, Umrah, students living in dormitories (outside), military members, or anyone traveling to the meningitis belt region, namely endemic areas in Africa. Sub-Sahara and dense travel destination countries such as Saudi Arabia. According to Suzy, the latest generation of meningitis vaccines are considered capable of providing long-term protection as well as reducing the risk of a person becoming a carrier of a symptomless bacteria (carrier). "The vaccines of the latest generation conjugate meningitis can reduce the risk of carriers and protect in the long term because the composition of their components can strengthen the immune system over time," he stressed.

Given the fast-growing and hard-to-recognizable nature of the infection in the early stages, vaccination is a recommended preventive measure, especially for pilgrims, Umrah, students living in dormitories (outside), military members, or anyone traveling to the meningitis belt region, namely endemic areas in Africa. Sub-Sahara and dense travel destination countries such as Saudi Arabia. According to Suzy, the latest generation of meningitis vaccines are considered capable of providing long-term protection as well as reducing the risk of a person becoming a carrier of a symptomless bacteria (carrier). "The vaccines of the latest generation conjugate meningitis can reduce the risk of carriers and protect in the long term because the composition of their components can strengthen the immune system over time," he stressed.

Given the fast-growing and hard-to-recognizable nature of the infection in the early stages, vaccination is a recommended preventive measure, especially for pilgrims, Umrah, students living in dormitories (outside), military members, or anyone traveling to the meningitis belt region, namely endemic areas in Africa. Sub-Sahara and dense travel destination countries such as Saudi Arabia. According to Suzy, the latest generation of meningitis vaccines are considered capable of providing long-term protection as well as reducing the risk of a person becoming a carrier of a symptomless bacteria (carrier). "The vaccines of the latest generation conjugate meningitis can reduce the risk of carriers and protect in the long term because the composition of their components can strengthen the immune system over time," he stressed.

Given the fast-growing and hard-to-recognizable nature of the infection in the early stages, vaccination is a recommended preventive measure, especially for Hajj pilgrims, Umrah, students living in dormitories (outside the country), military members, or anyone traveling to the meningitis belt area, namely the endemic area in Africa. Sub-Sahara and dense travel destination countries such as Saudi Arabia.

According to Suzy, the latest generation of conjugate meningitis vaccine is considered to be able to provide long-term protection while reducing the risk of a person becoming a patient with no symptoms (carrier).

"The latest generation of conjugate meningitis vaccines can reduce carrier risk and protect in the long term because the composition of components can strengthen the immune system over time," he said.

In line with that, the Director of PT Kalventis Sinergi Farma, Vidi Agiorno Metupawan, said that the latest vaccine technology is now designed not only to protect recipients but also to help break the chain of transmission in the community.

Prevention through vaccines can be given to people who want to travel to risky areas at least 10 to 14 days before departure.

"In addition to vaccines, people are also advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle, regulate diet, and ensure optimal stamina," he said.

These preventive measures not only protect themselves, but also those around them who are more vulnerable, such as infants, the elderly, or individuals with certain medical conditions.