Pilgrims coming from countries infected by yellow fever, meningitis, polio and seasonal influenza have been asked to take vaccinations against them.
The Health Ministry, which made the announcement, told relevant departments to inform Saudi foreign missions to take the health conditions into consideration while issuing Haj and Umrah visas.
“The ministry follows up contagious diseases all over the world. If there are any changes in health conditions, we’ll inform the authorities concerned immediately,” said Dr. Khaled Mirghalani, spokesman of the ministry.
He said pilgrims coming from 29 yellow-fever-infected African and 13 American countries should take vaccinations against the disease 10 days before their arrival in the Kingdom and no more than 10 years.
In accordance with international health regulations, all aircraft, ships and the other modes of transport arriving from infected countries are required to present valid certificates confirming the extermination of mosquitoes on-board.
With regard to meningococcal meningitis, the spokesman said all pilgrims as well as those who come to work during Haj must have valid certificates of vaccination against the disease issued not less than 10 days before arrival and not exceeding three years.
Those coming from the following African countries must get from the health authorities in Saudi Arabia single 500mg dose of ciprofloxacin in order to reduce potential microbe carrying rate: Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Niger, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Eritrea, Gambia, Senegal and Central African Republic.
Children under 15 arriving from polio-virus-transmitting countries — Uganda, Kenya, Benin, Angola, Togo, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Ghana, DR Congo, Ethiopia and Nepal — are required to be vaccinated with oral polio vaccine at least six weeks before arrival in the country and provide a certificate proving it. They will be given another dose of oral polio vaccine upon arrival.
“All pilgrims, both from within and outside Saudi Arabia, are recommended to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza virus before they commence for Haj, especially those most vulnerable to complications, such as the elderly and persons with chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes or renal, liver and cardiac problems,” Mirghalani said.
The ministry also cautioned pilgrims against carrying a lot of food items to the Kingdom. It also urged authorities in foreign countries to give pilgrims necessary instructions to protect their health.
