BACKGROUND: Hajj is a mass gathering undertaken annually in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The 2009 Hajj coincided with both the pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 (A(H1N1)pdm09) and seasonal types of influenza A viruses. The interaction between pandemic influenza and Hajj could cause both a high level of mortality among the pilgrims and the spread of infection in their respective countries upon their return home. OBJECTIVE: The present study attempted to determine the point prevalence of A(H1N1)pdm09 among returning Iranian pilgrims, most of whom had been vaccinated for seasonal influenza but not A(H1N1)pdm09. METHODS: Pharyngeal swabs were collected from 305 pilgrims arriving at the airport in Shiraz, Iran. RNA was extracted from the samples and A(H1N1)pdm09 and other seasonal influenza A viruses were detected using TaqMan real-time PCR. For A(H1N1)pdm09-positive samples, the sensitivity to oseltamivir was also evaluated. RESULTS: Subjects included 132 (43.3%) men and 173 (56.7%) women, ranging in age from 24 to 65 years. The A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was detected in five (1.6%) pilgrims and other influenza A viruses in eight (2.6%). All the A(H1N1)pdm09 were sensitive to oseltamivir. CONCLUSIONS: Only five cases were found to be positive for A(H1N1)pdm09, and it seems unlikely that the arrival of infected pilgrims to their homelands would cause an outbreak of a new wave of infection there. Thus, the low morbidity and mortality rates among the pilgrims could be attributed to the characteristics of A(H1N1)pdm09, which causes morbidity and mortality in a way similar to the seasonal influenza infections, absence of high-risk individuals among the Iranian pilgrims, and the instructions given to them about contact and hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette.
BACKGROUND: Hajj is a mass gathering undertaken annually in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The 2009 Hajj coincided with both the pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 (A(H1N1)pdm09) and seasonal types of influenza A viruses. The interaction between pandemic influenza and Hajj could cause both a high level of mortality among the pilgrims and the spread of infection in their respective countries upon their return home. OBJECTIVE: The present study attempted to determine the point prevalence of A(H1N1)pdm09 among returning Iranian pilgrims, most of whom had been vaccinated for seasonal influenza but not A(H1N1)pdm09. METHODS: Pharyngeal swabs were collected from 305 pilgrims arriving at the airport in Shiraz, Iran. RNA was extracted from the samples and A(H1N1)pdm09 and other seasonal influenza A viruses were detected using TaqMan real-time PCR. For A(H1N1)pdm09-positive samples, the sensitivity to oseltamivir was also evaluated. RESULTS: Subjects included 132 (43.3%) men and 173 (56.7%) women, ranging in age from 24 to 65 years. The A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was detected in five (1.6%) pilgrims and other influenza A viruses in eight (2.6%). All the A(H1N1)pdm09 were sensitive to oseltamivir. CONCLUSIONS: Only five cases were found to be positive for A(H1N1)pdm09, and it seems unlikely that the arrival of infected pilgrims to their homelands would cause an outbreak of a new wave of infection there. Thus, the low morbidity and mortality rates among the pilgrims could be attributed to the characteristics of A(H1N1)pdm09, which causes morbidity and mortality in a way similar to the seasonal influenza infections, absence of high-risk individuals among the Iranian pilgrims, and the instructions given to them about contact and hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette.
Authors: Alasdair R Duncan; Patricia C Priest; Lance C Jennings; Cheryl R Brunton; Michael G Baker Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2009-10 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Z A Memish; S J N McNabb; F Mahoney; F Alrabiah; N Marano; Q A Ahmed; J Mahjour; R A Hajjeh; P Formenty; F H Harmanci; H El Bushra; T M Uyeki; M Nunn; N Isla; M Barbeschi Journal: Lancet Date: 2009-11-14 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Rogelio Perez-Padilla; Daniela de la Rosa-Zamboni; Samuel Ponce de Leon; Mauricio Hernandez; Francisco Quiñones-Falconi; Edgar Bautista; Alejandra Ramirez-Venegas; Jorge Rojas-Serrano; Christopher E Ormsby; Ariel Corrales; Anjarath Higuera; Edgar Mondragon; Jose Angel Cordova-Villalobos Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2009-06-29 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: A Alborzi; S Oskoee; B Pourabbas; S Alborzi; B Astaneh; M M Gooya; M J Kaviani Journal: East Mediterr Health J Date: 2008 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 1.628
Authors: Stuart Wood; Kalyani Telu; David Tribble; Anuradha Ganesan; Anjali Kunz; Mary Fairchok; Elizabeth Schnaubelt; Mark D Johnson; Ryan Maves; Jamie Fraser; Indrani Mitra; Tahaniyat Lalani; Heather C Yun Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2018-11 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Samir Benkouiten; Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq; Ziad A Memish; Ali Albarrak; Philippe Gautret Journal: Travel Med Infect Dis Date: 2018-12-04 Impact factor: 6.211