Media and World Health Organization (WHO) attention on Zika virus transmission at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and the 2015 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa diverted the attention of global public health authorities from other lethal infectious diseases with epidemic potential. Mass gatherings such as the annual Hajj pilgrimage hosted by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attract huge crowds from all con...

Objectives Influenza outbreaks have been widely studied. However, the patterns between influenza and religious festivals remained unexplored. This study examined the patterns of influenza and Hanukkah in Israel, and that of influenza and Hajj in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Oman and Qatar. Method Influenza surveillance data of these seven countries from 2009 to 2017 were downloaded from the Fl...

Hajj is a unique gathering of its kind and poses a challenge to its organisers. Recently many types of identification and sensor devices, including RFID tags, have been developed. Such technologies, together with the use of database systems, can be extremely useful in improving the Hajj management. Sensor devices can be used to track movements of individuals during the Hajj period. Various type...

BACKGROUND Pneumonia is a leading cause of hospitalization during Hajj and susceptibility and transmission may be exacerbated by extreme spatial and temporal crowding. We describe the number and temporal onset, co-morbidities, and outcomes of severe pneumonia causing critical illness among pilgrims. METHOD A cohort study of all critically ill Hajj patients, of over 40 nationalities, admitted ...

Pilgrims returning from the Hajj might contribute to international spreading of respiratory pathogens. Nasal and throat swab specimens were obtained from 129 pilgrims in 2013 before they departed from France and before they left Saudi Arabia, and tested by PCR for respiratory viruses and bacteria. Overall, 21.5% and 38.8% of pre-Hajj and post-Hajj specimens, respectively, were positive for ≥1 v...

Introduction: Every year a large number of Muslims, especially from Iran, travel to holy places in Iraq for pilgrimage. Like Hajj and other mass gatherings, the health of pilgrims in Iraq is a major issue. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of diseases in pilgrims referring to Iranian clinics in Iraq. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted...

Abstract Background Every year millions of Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia perform the fifth pillar Islam, Hajj pilgrimage Aligned with Kingdom's 2030 vision, Ministry Health works provide advanced free medical services pilgrims by implementing digital transformation. service providing companies are concerned offering high-quality logistical and removing obstacles that may face including those r...

The Hajj 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 first week of November 2010 and this report is a timely reminder that...