Wüstenschiff

SWINE FLU: TUNISIA CONSIDERS SUSPENDING PILGRIMAGE
30.06.2009 - ANSAmed

TUNIS - Tunisian authorities are evaluating the possibility of calling off this year's pilgrimage to Mecca to avoid further spreading of the A/H1N1 virus which has already infected 66,000 people causing 127 deaths, according to the latest data reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Tunisian Minister for Religious Affairs, Boubaker Khzouri said to newspaper Assari "that a suspension is possible also taking into account the fact that a fatwa (a religious decree) is not necessary" because the Koran forbids travelling towards countries that have been hit by epidemics. In the last few days, a third case of A/H1N1 flu was discovered in Tunisia: a Tunisian man who had been in Saudi Arabia for a business trip. The other cases were two students arriving from the US. Also Egypt and Jordan are evaluating the possibility of taking similar measures. According to other Muslim countries, such as Algeria, "the decision of suspending the Hadj cannot be taken by a single country but by the Muslim community as a whole". The pilgrimage to the Mecca, which calls 2 or 3 million worshippers, should fall this year between October and November, the time of year in which WHO experts fear a new peak of the flu.

Quelle: ANSAmed

Gruß
Birgitt

IRIN hat geschrieben:MIDDLE EAST: Swine flu measures ahead of Hajj season

DUBAI, 12 July 2009 (IRIN) - With several million Muslims from all over the world expected in Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in late November, Saudi authorities are concerned that the event will facilitate the spread of the A(H1N1) virus among pilgrims.

Aside from the week-long Hajj, more than 2 million people go on pilgrimage to Mecca throughout the year (called 'Umrah'), with extra numbers visiting in the holy month of Ramadan (from about 21 August to 19 September).

Saudi Arabia held a workshop at the end of June to discuss minimising the spread of the disease during Hajj season and urged all nations to postpone the pilgrimage this year for elderly people with chronic illnesses, children and pregnant women.

The workshop outlined general hygiene habits to reduce the risk of A(H1N1) infection, such as washing hands with water and soap, covering the nose and mouth while sneezing and coughing, and wearing masks when visiting crowded places.

According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) 6 July update on Influenza A(H1N1), the Middle East region has had 1,111 cases of the virus and no deaths.

Regional precautionary measures

Many countries in the region have started taking precautionary measures to control the spread of A(H1N1) during and after the Hajj.

* Ali Al Baqqara, head of the Hajj medical committee at Bahrain's Ministry of Health, called on people to postpone going to Hajj this year, particularly pregnant women, children, people above 60 and people suffering from blood disorders and genetic or chronic diseases.

* In Egypt, Health Minister Hatem Al-Gabali warned last month that Egyptian pilgrims could be quarantined upon their return from Hajj.

* Khalid Al-Sahlawi, secretary-general for Al-Hajj Mission in Kuwait, said that provided the A(H1N1) vaccination is available in the country in early October, the priority for vaccination will be given to pilgrims.

* On 6 July, Oman banned sick elderly people and children from travelling to Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage for fear of contracting A(H1N1), according to a health ministry statement. The ministry did not clarify whether the ban would be extended to cover the Hajj season as well.

* Jassim al-Kubeisi, deputy chairman of Qatar's Hajj Committee, told Gulf Times on 11 July that the committee members would meet soon to discuss and take a decision on how to deal with Hajj and Umrah this year.

* Ziyad Maymash, assistant undersecretary for preventive medicine at the Saudi Ministry of Health, said a quarantine facility had been set up at airport arrival lounges to isolate Hajj and Umrah pilgrims with symptoms of A(H1N1) infections.

* Ali Bin Shukr, Director General of the UAE Ministry of Health, said on 8 July that the government would launch an A(H1N1) awareness campaign for people planning to perform Hajj or Umrah. Shukr said the ministry will coordinate with the General Authority for Islamic Affairs to engage imams in educating pilgrims during Friday prayers about ways to avoid contracting the virus.
Sources: Local media, health ministries, WHO

Quelle: http://www.irinnews.org

Grüsse
Alexander

H1N1 FLU: ALGERIA, BOOKINGS FOR MECCA PLUNGE
14.07.2009 - ANSAmed

ALGIERS - While the Algerian authorities announce new measures to prevent the further spread of H1N1/A flu (the number of infections in Algeria went up to 8 over the last few hours), travel agencies specialising in organising pilgrimages to Mecca have registered a 50% drop in bookings for the Holy City of Islam. According to newspaper El Khabar, the data was presented during a meeting on how to guarantee the necessary health measures to protect pilgrims, organised in Algiers by the Algerian Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Offices for Hadj and Omra (the two Mecca pilgrimages, which take place, respectively, during the Aid El Kebir period - the Festival of Sacrifice, which this year will fall in mid-November - and during the holy month of Ramadan, which will start around August 20). "The pilgrimage will not be cancelled", said the Algerian Minister for Religious Affairs, Bouadbellah Ghlammalah, despite the high risk of infection during the visit to the holy sites which welcome million of tourists every year. All harbours, airports and land borders will be equipped with video cameras to detect body temperature and specialist medical teams will accompany pilgrims. For this year, travel agencies are also required not to accept the bookings of elderly people, those suffering from chronic health problems, pregnant women and children.

Quelle: ANSAmed


Gruß
Birgitt

SWINE FLU: LEBANON, HAJJ PILGRIMS EXEMPT FROM FATWA ***
20.07.2009 - ANSAmed

ROME - The most influential Lebanese Shiite authority has issued a fatwa with which he has exempted those afraid of falling ill with swine flu or with serious physiological problems from the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj. Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Hussain Fadlallah, in response to questions raised by the Lebanese Health Ministry and in other parts of the Arab world, did however reiterate - according to the Gulf News website - that the pilgrimage should in no situation be annulled, since it is a "God-given duty". Other Saudi and international experts have in any case recommended that pregnant women, children, the elderly and those suffering from chronic illnesses not take part in this year's pilgrimage. The fatwa was issued on the same day in which an Egyptian woman infected with the H1N1 flu died in Saudi Arabia where she was participating in the Umrah, the small pilgrimage ... mehr

Gruß
Birgitt

H1N1: TUNISIA, MEDICAL EXAMS FOR MECCA PILGRIMS
31.07.2009 - ANSAmed

TUNIS - Those who have signed up for the pilgrimage to Mecca will have to undergo a medical examination in the August 10-19 period, according to the Tunisian Minister for Religious Affairs who, after the spread of the H1N1 flu, also decided that pilgrims cannot be over 65 as of October 31, 2009. The 2009 pilgrimage (1430 Hejira) will be in December this year ... mehr

Gruß
Birgitt

Die Hadsch in Zeiten der Schweinegrippe
28.07.2009 - Zenith online

Mehr als zwei Millionen Menschen aus allen Kontinenten, die sich eine Woche lang an einem Ort versammeln, unter ihnen Junge und Alte, Kranke und Schwache. Aus Sicht von Gesundheitsexperten sieht so der ideale Nährboden für eine weitere Ausbreitung der weltweit grassierenden Schweinegrippe aus. Genau diese Bedingungen werden Ende November dieses Jahres gegeben sein, wenn sich Muslime aus aller Welt zur diesjährigen Hadsch in Mekka versammeln ... mehr

Gruß
Birgitt

SWINE FLU: TUNISIA, RECOMMENDATIONS ON MECCA PILGRIMAGE
05.08.2009 - ANSAmed

TUNIS - Those suffering from diabetes, heart problems, liver diseases and metabolic problems should not go to Mecca this year for the either the large or small pilgrimage. This was said by Health Minister Abdellah Ibn Abdelaziz Al Rabiaa on a visit to Tunis, in reference to the H1N1 flu, noting that the ban on those under 12 or over 65 still holds. According to official sources, in Tunisia there are 19 people infected with the virus.

Quelle: ANSAmed
_______________________________________________

ISLAM: EGYPT PUTS BAR ON UMRAH PILGRIMS
14.08.2009 - ANSAmed

Egypt has imposed restrictions on Umrah pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia during the holy month of Ramadan as a precaution against the H1n1 virus. Restrictons regards that only those pilgrims for whom Umrah visas were issued before thursday 13 of August would be allowed to travel Saudi Arabia. Egypt's partial suspension follows moves by Iran and Iraq to suspend Umrah visits during Ramadan. Egypt also decided to raise the minimum age of Umrah pilgrims from 12 years to 25 years to partecipate to pilgrimage. The Minister of Health said the number of Egyptian travelers infected with the H1n1 virus returning from the Kingdom was higher than travelers affected by the same disease returning from other countries.

Quelle: ANSAmed


Gruß
Birgitt

EGYPT: SWINE FLU, 110,000 WILL NOT PERFORM OMRA
19.08.2009 - ANSAmed

Following restrictions imposed last week by the Egyptian government with regard to the short pilgrimage to Mecca (Omra), around 100,000 Egyptians will not be able to participate, according to Saudi information website Arab News. It was decided to raise the age limit for participating in the pilgrimage, which means that a large number of Egyptians under 25 years old will be compelled to stay at home, said Naser Turk, Deputy President of Egypt's Chamber for Tourism. According to Turk many Egyptian families have been forced to cancel their spiritual journey to Saudi Arabia, because some of their members were under the recently-enforced age limit. This has resulted in a fall of 35% in the number of bookings at the country's tour operators, says the head of tourism, which has in turn led to problems for many Saudi hotels, who will find themselves with many of their rooms empty.

Quelle: ANSAmed
______________________________________________

Schweinegrippe schränkt Muslime ein
19.08.2009 - Welt

Am Wochenende beginnt für Muslime der Ramadan. Wegen der Schweinegrippe gelten im Fastenmonat einige Einschränkungen. So sind Mekka-Reisen weniger gefragt. Die Veranstalter informieren die Pilger ausführlich, welche religiösen und hygienischen Vorschriften während Hadsch und Umrah einzuhalten sind ... mehr


Gruß
Birgitt

SWINE FLU: SHARP DECLINE IN TUNISIAN PILGRIMS TO MECCA
28.08.2009 - ANSAmed

TUNIS - No more than 2,800 Tunisians will go on the pilgrimage to Mecca this year, against the around 9,000 of the previous years. This decline is caused by the strict measures adopted by Tunisia, in line with those established by Saudi Arabia, to dam the spreading of swine Flu. Of the 9,000 Tunisian candidates chosen by lot, after medical examinations and the application of the new regulations just 2,800 were picked for the pilgrimage. This group will have to undergo more tests before leaving. Tunisia has suspended the lesser pilgrimage (Omra) during this Ramadan.

Quelle: ANSAmed

Gruß
Birgitt

SWINE FLU: EGYPT; NUMBER OF HAJ PILGRIMS TO BE CUT BY 40%
04.09.2009 - ANSAmed

JEDDAH - Egyptian Haj authorities have decided to reduce the number of Haj pilgrims by 40 percent this year as precaution against the spread of the H1N1 virus. Approximately 80,000 Egyptian pilgrims come for Haj every year, Arab news reports. Saudi Arabia has so far reported 23 deaths caused by swine flu. That meeting also decided not to accept applications from people seeking to perform Haj in place of those above 65 years of age or those suffering from chronic illnesses who have been removed from the list of pilgrims following the recommendations by Arab health ministers to bar such people from performing Haj, Al-Qarshi said. Tunisia had earlier decided to bar some 7,000 intending Haj pilgrims from coming for pilgrimage this year in view of the increasing swine flu cases. An Egyptian delegation will shortly visit the Kingdom to finalize arrangements for facilities in Makkah and Madinah where patients could be kept in isolation in the event of a flu outbreak that might be beyond the capacity of hospitals in the holy cities. He said the Egyptian authorities informed him that a final decision concerning the number of Haj pilgrims or cancellation of Haj for all Egyptians is under study. The decision would be taken ahead of the Haj after monitoring the spread of the virus. Egypt's Interior Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday that Haj pilgrims would start traveling from Egypt to Saudi Arabia on November 6 if the higher Haj committee does not bar people from going for Haj this year.

Quelle: ANSAmed

Gruß
Birgitt

SWINE FLU: TUNISIA, NO PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
05.10.1009 - ANSAmed

TUNIS - Tunisians will not participate in the Haji to Mecca, which this year will start in late November, to prevent a Swine Flu pandemic. The news was announced by the country's minister of religious affairs, Boubaker Lakhazouri, in a press conference. "Facing this serious situation, the most rational decision is to postpone the pilgrimage to next year" said the minister. He pointed out that "saving human lives is one of Islam's goals", underlining that the measure is a "postponement" and no "cancellation". Earlier the authorities had advised pilgrims, 2751 this year, not to go. Today it was decided that the risk of infection in the presence of 2-3 million pilgrims in Mecca and Medina from all over the world is too high.

Quelle: ANSAmed

Gruß
Birgitt

SWINE FLU: VACCINE IN ALGERIA FOR PILGRIMS TO MECCA
13.10.2009 - ANSAmed

ALGIERS - In the next few days, twenty million doses of the swine flu vaccine will arrive in Algeria. Priority will be given to the pilgrims heading for Mecca at the beginning of November. According to El Watan, this was stated by the spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Hospital Reform, who assured that "the doses will arrive in two or three days". Said Barkat, the Minister of Health, declared a few days ago that "the pilgrims are not at any risk," explaining Algeriàs decision not to suspend the Hadj, the traditional pilgrimage to Mecca. "The medical teams that will accompany the faithful are well-prepared," said Barkat. "The Hadj will be armed with masks and antiviral medications. Therés nothing to be afraid of". There have been 48 cases of swine flu recorded in the country so far.

Quelle: ANSAmed

Gruß
Birgitt

Tunesien: Hadsch fällt aus wegen Schweinegrippe

An der diesjährigen großen Pilgerfahrt nach Mekka, dem Hadsch, der dieses Jahr am 18. November beginnt, dürfen Tunesier nicht teilnehmen: als erstes Land hat Tunesien sie wegen der Schweinegrippe verboten.

Dies ist bereits die zweite derartige Maßanhme des nordafrikanischen Landes: im Juli wurde bereits die kleine Pilgerfahrt, Omra genannt, untersagt. Laut einer Bekanntmachung des Religionsministeriums sind Pilgerreisen mit der Gefahr einer Verbreitung des Virus A/H1N1 verbunden.

Quelle: Afrika Life

Grüsse
Alexander

Wirtschaftsfaktor Hadsch
Die Schweinegrippe schreckt die Pilger ab
26.11.2009 - tagesschau

Zwischen fünf und sechs Milliarden Euro bringt die Hadsch alljährlich ein - Souvenirs und Opfertiere eingerechnet. Doch in diesem Jahr laufen die Geschäfte nicht gut. Vor allem den reichen Gläubigen macht die Schweinegrippe Angst: Sie sagen ihre Fünf-Sterne-Pilgerreise lieber ab ... mehr

Gruß
Birgitt

1 Jahr später -
Schweinegrippe ist kein Thema mehr ...


HEALTH HAZARDS, HAJJ - SAUDI ARABIA
***********************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Thu 30 Sep 2010
Source: Eurosurveillance 2010: Volume 15/ Issue 39 [edited]
<http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArt ... leId=19671>


The Hajj: communicable and non-communicable health hazards and current
guidance for pilgrims
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hajj [annual pilgrimage to Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(KSA)] has become the epicenter of mass migration of millions of
Muslims of enormous ethnic diversity. No other mass gathering can
compare, either in scale or in regularity. Communicable disease
outbreaks of various infectious diseases have been reported
repeatedly, during and following the Hajj. The Hajj 2010 starts in the
1st week of November 2010 and this report is a timely reminder that
many infectious diseases can be avoided or averted by adopting
appropriate prophylactic measures.

Preventive measures during Hajj in Saudi Arabia
-----------------------------------------------
The KSA provides free health care to all pilgrims during the Hajj and
also implements stringent infection control measures. In 2009, the KSA
MoH [Ministry of Health] prepared 24 hospitals with a total bed
capacity of 4964, of which 547 were critical care beds. Moreover 136
health care centers in the vicinity of the Hajj were equipped with the
latest emergency management medical systems and staffed with 17 609
specialised personnel to provide state of the art health care to all
pilgrims free of charge.

A large number of public health officers Šcontrol the ports of entry
for all pilgrims (land, sea and airports) and ensure compliance with
Saudi MoH requirements for performing Hajj. In addition 39 public
health teams are distributed around where the Hajj takes place. These
include 18 stationary teams located in health care facilities and 21
mobile teams, which rotate through the different pilgrim camps.

At the Hajj terminal based at King Abdulaziz International Airport in
Jeddah, the key port of entry for the majority of pilgrims, an
independent, newly renovated Hajj terminal now accommodates 80 000
pilgrims at any one time. At each of its 18 hubs receiving pilgrim
flights there are 2 clinical examination rooms and a large holding
area to assess arriving pilgrims and check their immunisation status
and administer any recommended prophylactic medicines. Any pilgrim
with a suspected communicable disease requiring isolation will be
escorted back through the airport grounds by ambulance to a nearby
dedicated 200-bed hospital.

The public health teams (stationary and mobile) as well as the ports
of entry teams report directly to the command center on 9 communicable
diseases using an electronic surveillance form based on an updated
disease case definition submitted via mobile phones. These diseases
include influenza, influenza-like illness, meningococcal disease, food
poisoning, viral hemorrhagic fevers, yellow fever, cholera, polio, and
plague.

Meningococcal disease
---------------------
During the Hajj, carrier rates for meningococcal disease (MCD) rise to
a level as high as 80 percent [5] due to intense overcrowding, high
humidity and dense air pollution. When rates of carriage rise to this
level, the risk for meningococcal outbreaks becomes a real concern.
The largest meningococcal outbreak among pilgrims occurred in 1987
with meningococcal serogroup A affecting pilgrims in Mecca and
internationally [6]. After implementing vaccination with the bivalent
A and C meningococcal vaccine as a requirement for attending the Hajj,
no further outbreaks due to serogroup A occurred.

In the years 2000 and 2001, 2 large outbreaks of meningococcal
serogroup W135 occurred among pilgrims and their families in Saudi
Arabia and internationally [7]. A change of the Hajj pilgrimage
requirements from bivalent to quadrivalent (A,C,Y, W135) meningococcal
polysaccharide vaccine eliminated future meningococcal outbreaks [8].
Concerns still persist about hyporesponsiveness to the serogroup C
component of the polysaccharide quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine
despite repeat dosing [9].

Lack of herd immunity and persistence of meningococcal carriage among
vaccinated pilgrims with the polysaccharide vaccine prompted the Saudi
MoH to replace the local recommendations for meningococcal vaccination
from polysaccharide to conjugated meningococcal vaccine [10].
Excessive cost of available conjugated meningococcal vaccines
prohibited the MoH from mandating this recommendation to all
international pilgrims.

Acute respiratory tract infections
----------------------------------
Acute respiratory tract infections are very common during the Hajj,
particularly so when the pilgrimage falls in the winter season. The
close contact among pilgrims during periods of intense congestion,
their shared sleeping accommodations (mainly in tents) and the dense
air pollution all combine to increase the risk of airborne respiratory
disease transmission. A viral etiology of upper respiratory tract
infection (URTI) is most commonly implicated at the Hajj, but
bacterial superinfection often follows. More than 200 viruses can
cause URTI but at the Hajj the main culprits are respiratory syncytial
virus (RSV), parainfluenza, influenza and adenovirus [11].

Tuberculosis
------------
The intense congestion, living in close proximity with vast crowds and
the increasing percentage of elderly pilgrims are all factors
magnifying tuberculosis (TB) risk. Additionally many Muslims travel
from countries of high TB endemicity. The exact risk of TB
transmission among pilgrims is difficult to quantify. A study among
357 Singaporean pilgrims revealed that 10 percent showed a substantial
rise in immune response to the QuantiFERON TB assay antigens post-Hajj
when compared to a pre-Hajj test [12].

Pertussis
---------
Pertussis is another respiratory tract infection of concern during
Hajj. One study found a high incidence of pertussis in Hajj pilgrims
with an overall incidence of pertussis (1.4 percent) during this
one-month-long pilgrimage [13] Hajj pilgrims would therefore benefit
from pertussis vaccination prior to their departure.

Face masks & flu vaccination
----------------------------
In an attempt to reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections
during the Hajj, the Saudi MoH encourages pilgrims to wear surgical
face masks when in crowded places. In addition the MoH recommends that
international pilgrims be vaccinated against seasonal influenza before
arrival into the kingdom of Saudi Arabia with World Health
Organization (WHO) approved strains specific to the northern or
southern hemispheres, particularly those with pre-existing conditions
(e.g., the elderly, people with chronic chest or cardiac, hepatic or
renal disease). In KSA seasonal influenza vaccine is recommended for
internal pilgrims particularly those with pre-existing conditions and
all health care workers working in the Hajj premises.

Blood-borne diseases
--------------------
Muslim men observe completion of a successful Hajj by shaving their
heads. Head shaving is an important means of transmission of
blood-borne disease, including hepatitis B, C and HIV. Illegal
unlicensed barbers continue to operate at the Hajj, shaving hair at
the roadside with non-sterile blades, which are re-used on multiple
scalps. The Saudi MoH encourages all pilgrims to receive the full
series of hepatitis B vaccination prior to travel to Hajj [1]. As
well, all pilgrims should avoid unlicensed barbers and seek approved
licensed barber facilities at the Hajj premises to shave their heads
[1].

Diarrhoea and food poisoning
----------------------------
Traveller's diarrhoea is common during the Hajj, although few studies
have documented its incidence and etiology. The last study was done in
2002 showing that diarrhoea was the 3rd most common cause for
hospitalisation during Hajj. Cholera, an acute bacterial enteric
disease caused by _Vibrio cholerae_, accounted for several outbreaks
after the Hajj [14,15]. The last reported by the MoH was in 1989
affecting 102 pilgrims.

Significant improvement in water supply and sewage treatment has
eliminated such outbreaks. Concerns still persist about importing
cholera with pilgrims from affected countries, which will cause
widespread outbreaks in Mecca. The MoH has strict guidelines on food
importation by pilgrims. Food carried by visitors and pilgrims is
banned and not allowed into the country. Only properly canned foods
and in very small amounts, enough for one person for the duration of
the visit are allowed.

Poliomyelitis
-------------
Poliomyelitis is an acute viral infection that is acquired by
fecal-oral or oral transmission. International spread of polio through
pilgrimage is a major concern for Saudi Arabia. Only 4 countries
(Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan) have never completely
interrupted the transmission of wild poliovirus. All pilgrims from
these 4 countries, regardless of age and vaccination status, should
receive one dose of oral polio vaccine (OPV).

Proof of OPV vaccination at least 6 weeks prior departure is required
to apply for an entry visa for Saudi Arabia. These travellers will
also receive a dose of OPV at border points when arriving in Saudi
Arabia. All visitors under the age of 15 travelling to Saudi Arabia
from countries reinfected with poliomyelitis should be vaccinated
against poliomyelitis with OPV. Proof of OPV vaccination is required 6
weeks prior to the application for an entry visa. Irrespective of
previous immunization history, all visitors under 15 years arriving in
Saudi Arabia will also receive a dose of OPV at border points.

Pre- and post-Hajj travel advice
--------------------------------
This year Hajj recommendations were published in the Journal of
Infection and Public Health [17] and will be published the WHO WER
issue No.43, Volume 85, scheduled for release 22 Oct 2010.

[Byline: Z. A. Memish, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[This year the Hajj is expected to fall between 14-18 Nov 2010
(<http://islam.about.com/od/calendar/f/2010hajj.htm>). Hundreds of
thousands of pilgrims perform a series of rituals that include
processions, shaving the head or cutting part of the hair, and ritual
animal sacrifice (<http://www.hajinformation.com/main/f2111.htm>).

Exposure of so many people from around the world to an environment
that is at times confined (such as in tents), overcrowded, strenuous,
and hot may be especially a problem for children, the elderly and
those in poor health from pre-existing chronic illnesses such as
diabetes and chronic renal, heart and lung diseases. The government of
Saudi Arabia recommends that pilgrims should be 12-65 years old and in
good health
(<http://www.moh.gov.sa/english/modules/m ... php?lid=21>).

The above Eurosurveillance article outlines the response of Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia to protect the health and safety of pilgrims who travel
to Saudi Arabia during the annual Hajj. For the official documentation
of full requirements for entry into Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, see the
following websites: Saudi Ministry of Health Regulations (available at
<http://www.moh.gov.sa/english/modules/m ... php?lid=21>)
and the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia requirements to apply for a Hajj
visa (available at
(<http://www.saudiembassy.net/services/ha ... ments.aspx>).

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also
outlined its recommendations for pilgrims during the Hajj
(<http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/in- ... -2010.aspx>).
These recommendations include restricting travel to only those in good
health and being up to date on all routine vaccinations, which include
vaccines for polio, influenza, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), tetanus,
diphtheria, and pertussis. The CDC also recommends vaccinations for
meningococcal disease, hepatitis A and B, and typhoid. The CDC
specifies the two types of quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine that is
required for the Hajj: meningococcal conjugate vaccine, which is
recommended for people aged 2-55 years, and meningococcal
polysaccharide vaccine, which is recommended for people over 55 but
can be given to people aged 2-55.

A map of Saudi Arabia showing the location of Mecca can be accessed at
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_e ... 003.pdf>.A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Saudi Arabia can be accessed
at
<http://healthmap.org/r/008R>. - Mod.ML]

[There's a stunning photo of Mecca at:
<http://www.funghar.com/wp-content/uploa ... mecca3.jpg>
- Mod.JW]