title: A comprehensive review of the Kumbh Mela: identifying risks for spread of infectious diseases.
abstract: The Kumbh Mela in India is the largest mass gathering in the world which witnessed close to 100 million visitors in 2013. An event of this magnitude presents challenges. Increased population density, reduced hygienic conditions and exposure to environmental pollutants pave the way for easy transmission of pathogens. Due to the possibility of epidemics, the primary focus should be on identifying the potential risk factors and implementing appropriate preventive measures. The context of religion and psychology of the pilgrims is also closely associated with the evolution of the risk factors and so forms an important part of the discussion. We provide a brief background to the Kumbh Mela with a description of the existing and potential risk factors that require our attention.
authors: Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, CHU Nord, Pôle Infectieux, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Sridhar
authors: Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, CHU Nord, Pôle Infectieux, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Gautret
authors: Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, CHU Nord, Pôle Infectieux, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France. Electronic address: philippe.brouqui@univ-amu.fr.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Brouqui
mesh_terms: D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D003441:Crowding; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: India; Kumbh Mela; infectious disease; mass gathering; pilgrimage