title: Knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning Middle East respiratory syndrome among Umrah and Hajj pilgrims in Samsun, Turkey, 2015.
abstract: We performed a questionnaire study to determine knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) among people intending to participate in the Hajj or Umrah Muslim pilgrimages. Of the 381 respondents aged between 17 and 85 years, 55% had never heard of MERS, while only one in three knew that it is a respiratory disease. Approximately half were insufficiently informed about protective measures. Prospective pilgrims do not seem prepared to take such precautions.
authors.affiliation: Samsun Public Health Directorate, Canik Community Health Center, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa Kursat
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Servet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aker
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaynar Tuncel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome -MERS; hajj; respiratory infections; umrah; viral infections