sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="600"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#f4faff"><td class="heading_txt" height="20"> Polio vaccination must for issuance of Haj, Umra visas</td> </tr> <tr> <td>
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</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="small_txt" height="20">By Shahina Maqbool
7/15/2008</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="small_txt">Islamabad
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has instructed its overseas missions to strictly adhere to Ministry of Health stipulations while issuing Umra and Haj visas.
A circular in this regard has been received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seeking strict adherance to stipulations made by the Saudi Ministry of Health when issuing Umra and Haj visas, ?The News? learnt here on Monday.
According to sources, visas would only be issued on production of vaccination certificates against diseases that are endemic in respective countries, such as meningitis, yellow fever and polio.
Polio vaccination is a pre-requirement for children under 15 from African countries, Yemen, Nepal, India and Pakistan. Yellow fever is identified with Nigeria, Kenya, Congo, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia.
Vaccination against meningitis ? a disease that can be passed on to other pilgrims who have not been immunized against it ? is compulsory for all pilgrims. The vaccination, which is valid for three years, should be taken 10 days before departure to the holy cities of Makkah and Madina.
The ministry has also advised prospective pilgrims to take injections against seasonal influenza, an illness that can easily turn fatal for pilgrims who suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiac, renal and wheezing problems.Pilgrims are also being strictly advised that only canned foods will be allowed entry into the kingdom.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=124250
</td></tr></tbody></table>
7/15/2008</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="small_txt">Islamabad
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has instructed its overseas missions to strictly adhere to Ministry of Health stipulations while issuing Umra and Haj visas.
A circular in this regard has been received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seeking strict adherance to stipulations made by the Saudi Ministry of Health when issuing Umra and Haj visas, ?The News? learnt here on Monday.
According to sources, visas would only be issued on production of vaccination certificates against diseases that are endemic in respective countries, such as meningitis, yellow fever and polio.
Polio vaccination is a pre-requirement for children under 15 from African countries, Yemen, Nepal, India and Pakistan. Yellow fever is identified with Nigeria, Kenya, Congo, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia.
Vaccination against meningitis ? a disease that can be passed on to other pilgrims who have not been immunized against it ? is compulsory for all pilgrims. The vaccination, which is valid for three years, should be taken 10 days before departure to the holy cities of Makkah and Madina.
The ministry has also advised prospective pilgrims to take injections against seasonal influenza, an illness that can easily turn fatal for pilgrims who suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiac, renal and wheezing problems.Pilgrims are also being strictly advised that only canned foods will be allowed entry into the kingdom.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=124250
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