title: Acute respiratory infections among returning Hajj pilgrims-Jordan, 2014.
abstract: The emergence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has prompted enhanced surveillance for respiratory infections among pilgrims returning from the Hajj, one of the largest annual mass gatherings in the world.
  
  
  
  To describe the epidemiology and etiologies of respiratory illnesses among pilgrims returning to Jordan after the 2014 Hajj.
  
  
  
  Surveillance for respiratory illness among pilgrims returning to Jordan after the 2014 Hajj was conducted at sentinel health care facilities using epidemiologic surveys and molecular diagnostic testing of upper respiratory specimens for multiple respiratory pathogens, including MERS-CoV.
  
  
  
  Among the 125 subjects, 58% tested positive for at least one virus; 47% tested positive for rhino/enterovirus. No cases of MERS-CoV were detected.
  
  
  
  The majority of pilgrims returning to Jordan from the 2014 Hajj with respiratory illness were determined to have a viral etiology, but none were due to MERS-CoV. A greater understanding of the epidemiology of acute respiratory infections among returning travelers to other countries after Hajj should help optimize surveillance systems and inform public health response practices.
authors.affiliation: Communicable Diseases Directorate, Jordan Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Mohammad Mousa
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Abdallat
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: wif8@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rha
authors.affiliation: Communicable Diseases Directorate, Jordan Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Sultan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alqasrawi
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.affiliation: Jordan Field Epidemiology Training Program, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iblan
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Laboratories, Jordan Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Aktham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haddadin
authors.affiliation: Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Mohannad Al
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nsour
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Laboratories, Jordan Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alsanouri
authors.affiliation: Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Jawad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mofleh
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Whitaker
authors.affiliation: Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lindstrom
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Suxiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Communicable Diseases Directorate, Jordan Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Sami Sheikh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Maximus Federal, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca Moritz
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.affiliation: Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: LaShondra
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Dean D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Erdman
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Susan I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Gerber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003441:Crowding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Hajj; Jordan; MERS-CoV; Respiratory tract infections; Viruses