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The Lancet Global Health. Hajj: preparations underway
[Source: The Lancet Global Health, via ScienceDirect, full page: (LINK). Edited.]
The Lancet Global Health, Available online 16 October 2013 - In Press, Corrected Proof. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(13)70079-2
Open Access / Correspondence
Hajj: preparations underway
Ziad A Memish<SUP>a</SUP>, Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq<SUP>b</SUP><SUP> </SUP><SUP>c</SUP>, Abdullah A Al-Rabeeah<SUP>d</SUP>
<SUP></SUP>
<SUP>a</SUP> WHO Collaborating Center for Mass Gathering Medicine, Ministry of Health, Al-Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia <SUP>b</SUP> Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia <SUP>c</SUP> Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA <SUP>d</SUP> Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Available online 16 October 2013
_____
On Oct 13, the world's largest annual mass gathering will commence as Muslim pilgrims from 180 countries converge on Islam's holiest sites in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Despite the wealth of knowledge gained through decades of experience in the public health management of large-scale events,<SUP>1</SUP> this year's Hajj has drawn unprecedented global attention owing to concerns about the potential spread of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Saudi Arabia has reported the highest number of MERS-CoV cases since the virus first emerged in 2012?a total of 119 confirmed cases, with a case fatality of 42%, to date. Owing to ongoing concerns about transmission of the virus, the Saudi Ministry of Health has recommended that pregnant women, children (younger than 12 years), older adults (older than 65 years), or those who have a chronic or acute disease should postpone their plans to perform the Hajj this year.<SUP>2</SUP>
Beyond this, however, participants at the Third Meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee, on Sept 25, determined that, on the basis of current data, MERS-CoV does not warrant international measures to curtail Hajj-related travel.<SUP>3</SUP> Rather, all countries (particularly those with returning pilgrims) were advised to strengthen their surveillance capacities and ensure robust reporting of any identified cases, as provided for in the IHR measures adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2005.
Since the emergence of MERS-CoV, the Saudi Ministry of Health has embarked on international collaborations to identify the source of infection and characterise the mode of transmission, while simultaneously making every effort to halt any possible transmission during the upcoming Hajj. A vigilant surveillance programme is already in operation and no cases of MERS-CoV were reported among the 5 million Umrah pilgrims during the recent fasting month of Ramadan.
The Saudi Ministry of Health has issued sanitation and hygiene advice to all pilgrims, including guidance on ensuring effective handwashing, adhering to cough etiquette, wearing face masks in the crowded areas, and maintaining good personal hygiene more generally.<SUP>2</SUP>
All pilgrims with acute respiratory symptoms suggestive of pneumonia requiring intensive care will be isolated and tested for MERS-CoV. As part of the routine Hajj programme, 25 hospitals at the holy sites will provide a total of 5250 acute clinical care beds?4200 specialised, 500 critical care, and 550 emergency beds?and more than 22 500 health practitioners and Ministry of Health staff will be on duty for the entire Hajj period, Oct 13?16. Additionally, a team from the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean will provide technical support on appropriate public health preparedness measures.<SUP>4</SUP>
The medical services described are offered free of charge to all pilgrims who require medical care. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has urged all pilgrims' home countries to strengthen their surveillance systems to ensure early detection of any possible cases among returning pilgrims.
Mass gatherings continue to present advanced and complex public health challenges which are best addressed through multicountry channels of trust and equitable collaboration.<SUP>5</SUP> Saudi Arabia has enhanced its surveillance and health-care system for the wellbeing of all pilgrims.
__
We declare that we have no conflicts of interest.
_________
References
Copyright ? 2013 Memish et al. Open Access article distributed under the terms of CC BY-NC-ND. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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The Lancet Global Health, Available online 16 October 2013 - In Press, Corrected Proof. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(13)70079-2
Open Access / Correspondence
Hajj: preparations underway
Ziad A Memish<SUP>a</SUP>, Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq<SUP>b</SUP><SUP> </SUP><SUP>c</SUP>, Abdullah A Al-Rabeeah<SUP>d</SUP>
<SUP></SUP>
<SUP>a</SUP> WHO Collaborating Center for Mass Gathering Medicine, Ministry of Health, Al-Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia <SUP>b</SUP> Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia <SUP>c</SUP> Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA <SUP>d</SUP> Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Available online 16 October 2013
_____
On Oct 13, the world's largest annual mass gathering will commence as Muslim pilgrims from 180 countries converge on Islam's holiest sites in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Despite the wealth of knowledge gained through decades of experience in the public health management of large-scale events,<SUP>1</SUP> this year's Hajj has drawn unprecedented global attention owing to concerns about the potential spread of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Saudi Arabia has reported the highest number of MERS-CoV cases since the virus first emerged in 2012?a total of 119 confirmed cases, with a case fatality of 42%, to date. Owing to ongoing concerns about transmission of the virus, the Saudi Ministry of Health has recommended that pregnant women, children (younger than 12 years), older adults (older than 65 years), or those who have a chronic or acute disease should postpone their plans to perform the Hajj this year.<SUP>2</SUP>
Beyond this, however, participants at the Third Meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee, on Sept 25, determined that, on the basis of current data, MERS-CoV does not warrant international measures to curtail Hajj-related travel.<SUP>3</SUP> Rather, all countries (particularly those with returning pilgrims) were advised to strengthen their surveillance capacities and ensure robust reporting of any identified cases, as provided for in the IHR measures adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2005.
Since the emergence of MERS-CoV, the Saudi Ministry of Health has embarked on international collaborations to identify the source of infection and characterise the mode of transmission, while simultaneously making every effort to halt any possible transmission during the upcoming Hajj. A vigilant surveillance programme is already in operation and no cases of MERS-CoV were reported among the 5 million Umrah pilgrims during the recent fasting month of Ramadan.
The Saudi Ministry of Health has issued sanitation and hygiene advice to all pilgrims, including guidance on ensuring effective handwashing, adhering to cough etiquette, wearing face masks in the crowded areas, and maintaining good personal hygiene more generally.<SUP>2</SUP>
All pilgrims with acute respiratory symptoms suggestive of pneumonia requiring intensive care will be isolated and tested for MERS-CoV. As part of the routine Hajj programme, 25 hospitals at the holy sites will provide a total of 5250 acute clinical care beds?4200 specialised, 500 critical care, and 550 emergency beds?and more than 22 500 health practitioners and Ministry of Health staff will be on duty for the entire Hajj period, Oct 13?16. Additionally, a team from the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean will provide technical support on appropriate public health preparedness measures.<SUP>4</SUP>
The medical services described are offered free of charge to all pilgrims who require medical care. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has urged all pilgrims' home countries to strengthen their surveillance systems to ensure early detection of any possible cases among returning pilgrims.
Mass gatherings continue to present advanced and complex public health challenges which are best addressed through multicountry channels of trust and equitable collaboration.<SUP>5</SUP> Saudi Arabia has enhanced its surveillance and health-care system for the wellbeing of all pilgrims.
__
We declare that we have no conflicts of interest.
_________
References
- ZA Memish, GM Stephens, R Steffen, QA Ahmed. Emergence of medicine for mass gatherings: lessons from the Hajj. Lancet Infect Dis, 12 2012), pp. 56?65
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Health regulations for travellers to KSA for Hajj, http://www.moh.gov.sa/en/HealthAwareness/Hajj/Pages/005.aspx (accessed Oct 7, 2013).
- World Health Organization, WHO statement on the third meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee concerning MERS-CoV, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2013/mers_cov_20130925/en/index.html (accessed Oct 6, 2013).
- World Health Organization, WHO to support the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia to strengthen public health preparedness measures for hajj 1434 H/2013, http://www.emro.who.int/surveillance-forecasting-response/surveillance-events/public-health-preparedness-measures-for-hajj-1434-h.html (accessed Oct 6, 2013).
- ZA Memish, GM Stephens, A Al Rabeeh, Mass gatherings medicine, Lancet Infect Dis, 12 (2012), p. 10
Copyright ? 2013 Memish et al. Open Access article distributed under the terms of CC BY-NC-ND. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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