tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2013 Feb 20. [Epub ahead of print]
Respiratory tract infections during the annual Hajj: potential risks and mitigation strategies.
Al-Tawfiq JA, Zumla A, Memish ZA.
Source
aSaudi Aramco Medical Services Organization, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia bDepartment of Infection, Division of Infection and Immunity University College London, London, United Kingdom cMinistry of Health, Riyadh, Professor, College of Medicine, Al Faisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW:
Mass gatherings such as religious pilgrimages, sporting events and music concerts are becoming larger and more frequent. The scale and frequency of large-scale international events pose substantial risks to the spread of infectious diseases. The available literature on respiratory tract infections at the Hajj pilgrimage - annually attended by 3 million pilgrims from all over the globe - are reviewed.
RECENT FINDINGS:
The most common respiratory tract infection viruses are influenza and rhinovirus. Despite the occurrence of the Hajj during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic the available literature did not show an increased rate of infection. In hospitalized patients, pneumonia is a significant cause of admission accounting for 20-50% of such admissions.
SUMMARY:
The use of masks may reduce exposure to droplet nuclei, the main mode of transmission of most respiratory tract infections. The practice of social distancing, hand hygiene, and contact avoidance was associated with reduced risk of respiratory illness. In addition, utilizing the recommended vaccines would decrease the risk of acquiring respiratory tract pathogens.
PMID:
23429098
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23429098
Respiratory tract infections during the annual Hajj: potential risks and mitigation strategies.
Al-Tawfiq JA, Zumla A, Memish ZA.
Source
aSaudi Aramco Medical Services Organization, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia bDepartment of Infection, Division of Infection and Immunity University College London, London, United Kingdom cMinistry of Health, Riyadh, Professor, College of Medicine, Al Faisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW:
Mass gatherings such as religious pilgrimages, sporting events and music concerts are becoming larger and more frequent. The scale and frequency of large-scale international events pose substantial risks to the spread of infectious diseases. The available literature on respiratory tract infections at the Hajj pilgrimage - annually attended by 3 million pilgrims from all over the globe - are reviewed.
RECENT FINDINGS:
The most common respiratory tract infection viruses are influenza and rhinovirus. Despite the occurrence of the Hajj during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic the available literature did not show an increased rate of infection. In hospitalized patients, pneumonia is a significant cause of admission accounting for 20-50% of such admissions.
SUMMARY:
The use of masks may reduce exposure to droplet nuclei, the main mode of transmission of most respiratory tract infections. The practice of social distancing, hand hygiene, and contact avoidance was associated with reduced risk of respiratory illness. In addition, utilizing the recommended vaccines would decrease the risk of acquiring respiratory tract pathogens.
PMID:
23429098
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23429098