# 8706
The CDC has updated their travel advice for those planning to make the pilgrimage for Hajj or Umrah this year. While MERS is obviously a concern, it is far from the only travel related health concern when visiting Saudi Arabia.
Today’s advisory also addresses avoidance of mosquito borne illnesses, fresh-water parasites like Schistosomiasis, food and water contamination that can cause illnesses such as hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and travelers’ diarrhea, and heat-related illnesses . . . to just name a few.
You’ll also find advice on what vaccinations are required, what medicines you may want to pack, and what you should do if you fall ill while traveling, or upon your return This is a large update, and so I’ve only reproduced some excerpts. Follow the link to read it in its entirety:
Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia
Released: June 04, 2014
The annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is among the largest mass gatherings in the world. Hajj draws about 3 million Muslims from around the world, and more than 11,000 Americans make the pilgrimage each year. This year, Hajj will take place from approximately October 2–7, 2014. Umrah is a similar pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time of the year, but it is likely to be more crowded during the month of Ramadan (approximately June 28 to July 28, 2014) than at other times of the year.
Because of the crowds, mass gatherings such as Hajj and Umrah are associated with unique health risks. If you plan to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah, follow the recommendations below to help you stay safe and healthy.
What can travelers do to protect themselves?
Before your trip:
Protect yourself from MERS
For travel health recommendations related to the MERS outbreak, see MERS in the Arabian Peninsula.
- Schedule a health appointment at least 4–6 weeks before you depart on your trip. Talk to your doctor or nurse about vaccines and medicines recommended for Saudi Arabia. See the Find a Clinic webpage for help in finding a travel medicine clinic near you.
- The Meningitis (Meningococcal disease) vaccine is required if you are traveling to Saudi Arabia to take part in a pilgrimage. See the Saudi Ministry of Health’s Health conditions for travelers to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah and Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)--2014
- The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak is ongoing in the Arabian Peninsula. CDC has issued a MERS travel alert with health recommendations to reduce your risk of infection.
- The World Health Organization
has made the following recommendations:
- High-risk travelers (for example, people who have weakened immune systems or who have diabetes, chronic lung disease, or kidney failure) should review their risk with a doctor and consider whether the pilgrimage is advisable.
- People who develop respiratory illness while they are at Hajj should isolate themselves or, if isolation is not possible, wear a surgical mask around people.
- Travelers should avoid contact with camels, not visit farms, and not consume raw camel milk or urine or undercooked meat.
- In addition, for the 2014 Pilgrimage, the Saudi Ministry of Health
- People older than 65 years
- Children younger than 12 years
- Pregnant women
- People with chronic diseases (such as heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or respiratory disease)
- People with weakened immune systems or who take drugs that suppress the immune system
- People with cancer or terminal illness
- CDC recommends all travelers be up-to-date on routine vaccines, including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), polio, and influenza.
- Other recommended vaccines may include hepatitis A, typhoid, hepatitis B, and rabies.
- Medicine for malaria and travelers’ diarrhea may be recommended.
- Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
- Pack a travel health kit.
- Monitor travel warnings and alerts
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
- Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
