Open Access
Expected immunizations and health protection for Hajj and Umrah 2018 —An overview
TLDR
The expected obligations for immunizations for the 2018 Hajj and Umrah are reviewed and it is recommended that all pilgrims have an updated immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles and mumps).Abstract:
Background The annual Hajj and Umrah are one of the largest recurring religious mass gatherings across the globe drawing pilgrims from more than 185 countries. The living circumstances and activities of the pilgrims may create an environment for the occurrence and spread of communicable diseases. Each year, the Health authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in coordination with international health authorities, updates health requirements for pilgrims. The Hajj for 2017 took place from August 24 to September 5, 2017. Here, we review the expected obligations for immunizations for the 2018 Hajj and Umrah. Results The Hajj and Umrah vaccine requirements include mandatory vaccinations against yellow fever, quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide (every 3 years) or conjugated (every 5 years) vaccines and poliomyelitis vaccine. Influenza vaccine utilizing the 2016 (Southern Hemisphere vaccine to all pilgrims) was recommended but was not obligatory for pilgrims. Ciprofloxacin is required for individuals >12 years excluding pregnant women as chemoprophylaxis to be given at the port of entry for Pilgrims coming from the meningitis belt. With the ongoing outbreaks of measles in Europe, it is recommended that all pilgrims have an updated immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles and mumps). Conclusion The mandatory vaccines remain the same with continued vigilance for the development of any new or emerging infectious diseases. Continuing surveillance for Zika virus, cholera and MERS-CoV are ongoing.read more
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Infectious Diseases and Mass Gatherings
Van Thuan Hoang,Philippe Gautret +1 more
TL;DR: Findings in the field of infectious diseases with a variety of pathogens associated with international MGs in the last 5 years are summarized.
Journal ArticleDOI
A systematic review of emerging respiratory viruses at the Hajj and possible coinfection with Streptococcus pneumoniae
TL;DR: In this article, the authors searched MEDLINE/PubMed and Scopus databases for relevant papers describing the prevalence of respiratory viruses among Hajj pilgrims, and retrieved articles were summarized based on the methodology of testing for these viruses.
Journal ArticleDOI
Review of seasonal influenza vaccination in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Policies, use and barriers.
Hassan Zaraket,Nada M. Melhem,Mamunur Rahman Malik,Wasiq Khan,Ghassan Dbaibo,Abdinasir Abubakar +5 more
TL;DR: An extensive review of literature published between 2006 and 2016 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region on influenza vaccine policies, use, recommendations and coverage revealed knowledge gaps and misconceptions about influenza and its vaccines even among healthcare workers.
Journal ArticleDOI
The dynamics and interactions of respiratory pathogen carriage among French pilgrims during the 2018 Hajj.
Van Thuan Hoang,Thi Loi Dao,Tran Duc Anh Ly,Khadidja Belhouchat,Kamel Larbi Chaht,Jean Gaudart,Bakridine Mmadi Mrenda,Tassadit Drali,Saber Yezli,Badriah Alotaibi,Pierre-Edouard Fournier,Didier Raoult,Philippe Parola,Vincent Pommier de Santi,Philippe Gautret +14 more
TL;DR: The data suggest that RTIs at the Hajj are a result of complex interactions between a number of respiratory viruses and bacteria.
Clinical respiratory infections and pneumonia during the Hajj pilgrimage: A systematic review
TL;DR: Evaluated papers evaluated the prevalence of clinical symptoms of respiratory infections, including pneumonia, among Hajj pilgrims, as well as their influenza and pneumococcal vaccination status, finding the definition of ILI was inconsistent across studies.
References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Global epidemiology of meningococcal disease.
TL;DR: Although this review summarizes the current status of meningococcal disease epidemiology, the dynamic nature of this disease requires ongoing surveillance both to provide data for vaccine formulation and vaccine policy and to monitor the impact of vaccines following introduction.
Journal ArticleDOI
Health risks at the Hajj
TL;DR: The response of clinicians, the Saudi Ministry of Health, and Hajj authorities to these unique problems are examined, and health recommendations for prospective pilgrims are listed.
Journal ArticleDOI
Global epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease.
Rabab Z. Jafri,Asad Ali,Nancy E. Messonnier,Carol Tevi-Benissan,David N Durrheim,Juhani Eskola,Florence Fermon,Keith P. Klugman,Keith P. Klugman,Mary Ramsay,Samba O. Sow,Shao Zhujun,Zulfiqar A Bhutta,Jon S. Abramson +13 more
TL;DR: A review of the worldwide epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) varies markedly by region and over time and identifies the highest-incidence countries where routine preventive programs against Neisseria meningitidis would be most beneficial in providing protection.
Global epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease
Rabab Z. Jafri,Asad Ali,Nancy E. Messonnier,Carol Tevi-Benissan,David N Durrheim,Juhani Eskola,Florence Fermon,Keith P. Klugman,Keith P. Klugman,Mary Ramsay,Samba O. Sow,Shao Zhujun,Zulfiqar A Bhutta,Jon S. Abramson +13 more
TL;DR: The burden of IMD in different countries is summarized and the highest-incidence countries where routine preventive programs against Neisseria meningitidis would be most beneficial in providing protection are identified.
Journal ArticleDOI
Hajj: infectious disease surveillance and control
Ziad A. Memish,Alimuddin Zumla,Alimuddin Zumla,Rafat F. Alhakeem,Abdullah M. Assiri,Abdulhafeez Turkestani,Khalid D Al Harby,Mohamed Alyemni,Khalid Dhafar,Philippe Gautret,Maurizio Barbeschi,Brian McCloskey,David L Heymann,David L Heymann,Abdullah A. Al Rabeeah,Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq,Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq +16 more
TL;DR: The extensive public health planning, surveillance systems used to monitor public health risks, and health services provided and accessed during Hajj 2012 and Hajj 2013 that together attracted more than 5 million pilgrims from 184 countries are described.