The Hajj: updated health hazards and current recommendations for 2012.
This year the Hajj will take place during 24-29 October. Recent outbreaks of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, cholera in Sierra Leone, and infections associated with a novel coronavirus in Saudi Arabia and Qatar required review of the health recommendations of the 2012 Hajj. Current guidelines foresee mandatory vaccination with quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine for all pilgrims, and yellow fever and poliomyelitis vaccine for pilgrims from high-risk countries. Influenza vaccine is strongly recommended.
Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Al-Tawfiq
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Memish
D000208:Acute Disease; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000592:standards*; D037141:Mandatory Programs; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000276:immunology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012807:Sierra Leone; D014195:Travel; D014454:Uganda; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D015004:Yellow Fever / Q000276:immunology
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines