Eskild Petersen1,2,3, Ziad A Memish4,5,6, Alimuddin Zumla7, Amal Al Maani8,9. 1. Directorate General for Disease Surveillance and Control, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman. 2. Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Aarhus, Denmark. 3. European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, ESCMID Emerging Infections Task Force, ESCMID, Basel, Switzerland. 4. Research & Innovation Center, King Saud Medical City, Ministry of Health. 5. College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 6. Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. 7. Division of Infection and Immunity, Department of Infection, Centre for Clinical Microbiology, University College London; and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University College London Hospitals, London, UK. 8. Infection Prevention and Control Department, Directorate General for Disease Surveillance and Control (DGDSC). 9. Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Child Health Department, Royal Hospital, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Mass gathering events bring people from across all continents increasing the risk of spread of aerosol transmissible respiratory tract infections. Respiratory tract infections for instance in pilgrims attending the world's largest recurring annual pilgrimage, the Hajj are common. We review recent literature on viral and bacterial infectious diseases with special focus on the Hajj. RECENT FINDINGS: The prevalence of bacterial and viral infections continue to increase, because of the acquisition of rhinovirus, coronaviruses (229E, HKU1, OC43), influenza A H1N1, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus during Hajj. Whilst MERS-CoV continues to circulate in the Middle East, no cases of MERS-CoV have yet been identified in pilgrims during Hajj. SUMMARY: Respiratory tract infections are a major cause of morbidity in pilgrims attending mass gathering events. The management of severe respiratory infections should consider investigation and empirical coverage for the most likely agents based on syndromic surveillance data from hosting country and /or other relevant exposure history during events. Pneumococcal and Pertussis vaccines should be recommended for Hajj pilgrims.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Mass gathering events bring people from across all continents increasing the risk of spread of aerosol transmissible respiratory tract infections. Respiratory tract infections for instance in pilgrims attending the world's largest recurring annual pilgrimage, the Hajj are common. We review recent literature on viral and bacterial infectious diseases with special focus on the Hajj. RECENT FINDINGS: The prevalence of bacterial and viral infections continue to increase, because of the acquisition of rhinovirus, coronaviruses (229E, HKU1, OC43), influenza A H1N1, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus during Hajj. Whilst MERS-CoV continues to circulate in the Middle East, no cases of MERS-CoV have yet been identified in pilgrims during Hajj. SUMMARY:Respiratory tract infections are a major cause of morbidity in pilgrims attending mass gathering events. The management of severe respiratory infections should consider investigation and empirical coverage for the most likely agents based on syndromic surveillance data from hosting country and /or other relevant exposure history during events. Pneumococcal and Pertussis vaccines should be recommended for Hajj pilgrims.
Authors: Notice Ringa; Sarafa A Iyaniwura; Samara David; Mike A Irvine; Prince Adu; Michelle Spencer; Naveed Z Janjua; Michael C Otterstatter Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-05-03