Providing advice to pilgrims on preventing infectious diseases and health issues related to extreme heat
Beijing, September 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- This year's Hajj pilgrimage may face the hottest conditions in the past two decades. International SOS, a leading global medical and travel security services company, offers relevant medical advice for those planning to participate in the Hajj.
The 2015 Hajj coincides with one of the hottest months in the region since the mid-1990s. The dates for the Hajj shift approximately 11 days earlier each year compared to the previous year, as it is based on the shorter Islamic lunar calendar.
Dr. Issam Badaoui, Medical Director of International SOS, stated:
"Our advice aligns with global authoritative medical institutions: healthy individuals can undertake the pilgrimage, but gatherings inevitably carry health risks. This year’s pilgrims should be particularly vigilant about preventing Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and health issues related to extreme heat."
Global medical authorities indicate a recent upward trend in MERS cases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MERS is an airborne viral disease, first identified in 2012. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current fatality rate is approximately 30-40%.
Dr. Badaoui provides the following recommendations for preventing MERS or other infectious diseases.
- Pilgrims should maintain personal hygiene at all times and wash hands frequently with soap and clean water.
- Keep a safe distance from individuals who are coughing, sneezing, or appear ill.
- Avoid contact with animals (especially camels) and their environments as much as possible.
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption. Ensure meat is fully cooked and choose dairy products made from pasteurized milk.
- Only use officially designated barbershops and single-use, disposable razors.
- Ensure all vaccinations are administered according to regulations. All pilgrims must present proof of completing the quadrivalent meningitis vaccine to obtain a Hajj visa; some may also need to show proof of yellow fever and polio vaccinations. Additionally, we recommend receiving the seasonal flu vaccine.
Dr. Issam Badaoui also mentioned:
"Temperatures in Mecca in September average above35.5degrees, and pilgrims should be especially mindful of health risks posed by extreme heat. Prolonged exposure to hot and humid conditions, particularly without adequate hydration, can impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature..
Heatstroke can quickly become a life-threatening emergency. Therefore, all pilgrims should be vigilant about early symptoms of heat-related illness. If such symptoms occur, seek shade immediately and rehydrate. If symptoms persist for several minutes, the affected individual should be taken to professional medical care without delay."
Symptoms caused by extreme heat include muscle cramps, restlessness, confusion, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, nausea, vision problems, and fatigue.
Dr. Badaoui also emphasized that the Saudi Ministry of Health urges individuals in poor health to avoid participating in this year’s Hajj, especially those with pre-existing conditions such as cancer or cardiovascular diseases, pregnant women, elderly individuals over 65, and young children under 12.