Healthcare | Wednesday 10 June, 2015 1:27 pm |

To raise awareness on the precautionary measures that should be undertaken by the Umrah travelers and infectious diseases which pose serious health risks, leading experts from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, came together to address the media on “Control of Infectious Diseases during Umrah and Role of Vaccination for Travelers and Pilgrims”. Mass gatherings have long been associated with the spread of infectious diseases. Meningococcal disease outbreak was associated with the 1992 Umrah season and mass vaccination helped in controlling the situation.3 The incidence rate of pneumococcal disease in Saudi Arabia is estimated to be 17.4% per 100,000 of the population, with a fatality ratio of 12.20%.4

“Awareness on the diseases, preventive measures like vaccination and maintenance of hygiene is the key to preventing outbreak of serious diseases during mass gatherings like Umrah or Hajj. We strongly recommend travelers to undertake these as the means of avoiding social and economic burden associated with these diseases,” said Dr. Abdulhakeem Okab Ahmed Al-Thaqafi - Director Infection control - National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“Increased level of precaution is required for risks groups, especially, elderly adults over the age of 65 and those with comorbidities like type 2 diabetes mellitus, hematological malignancy, organ and bone marrow transplantation or chronic kidney or lung diseases. Ageing is a widely recognized risk factor in pneumococcal disease due to natural weakening of the immune system and susceptibility to infection,” said Dr. Mohammed Al Ghobain - Pulmonology consultant - King Abdulaziz Medical City - National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Pneumonia is the most common cause of hospital admission during Hajj as it easily spreads from person to person in a mass gathering.5 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends adult vaccination to help prevent pneumococcal disease, among other infectious diseases.6 According to WHO’s facts on immunization, it is one of the most successful and cost-effective of Public health interventions, preventing between 2 million and 3 million deaths every year in people of all ages.7