JEDDAH, 4 January 2003 — The Ministry of Health has reminded Haj pilgrims of the health precautions they are required to take before they come to the Kingdom, Al-Madinah reported yesterday.
First of all, those pilgrims coming from countries affected by Yellow Fever should vaccinate against the disease and bring a certificate to prove that they have been vaccinated, thus fulfilling the conditions specified by the World Health Organization.
The following are such countries: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bassao, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Sierra Leone. Pilgrims coming from Bolivia, Guyana, Brazil, Columbia, Panama, Peru, Surinam and Venezuela should also take the same vaccination.
If they do not carry vaccination certificates at the time of their entry into the Kingdom, they will be quarantined, vaccinated and put under observation for six days.
Aircraft and other means of transportation carrying pilgrims from these countries should ensure that they are fumigated and made free from insects and mosquitoes.
Foreign pilgrims and those working at the Haj locations should vaccinate against meningitis before they leave their countries at a period not less than 10 days or more than three years. They should also carry certificates to prove it.
Domestic pilgrims should also be vaccinated against meningitis.
The pilgrims are also advised to take precautions against influenza.
Meanwhile, Brig. Mansour Sultan Al- Turki, director of pilgrim affairs at the Public Security, said that all bus owners who intend to rent their buses to the General Car Syndicate or domestic pilgrim establishments to carry pilgrims should register their names with the traffic department and bring the vehicles to check if they are in good condition. Their drivers should also be conversant with traffic regulations.
