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KMID : 1143420170100020026
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Public Health Weekly Report
2017 Volume.10 No. 2 p.26 ~ p.32
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How can we prepare for and respond to the risk of MERS-CoV transmission by entrants from Hajj pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?
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Jang Yoon-Suk
Jeon Byoung-Hak
Kim Eun-Kyoung
Lee Ji-A
Song In-Myung
Son Tae-Jong
Jun Yeo-Jin
Chung Je-Hyuk
Hong Jeong-Ik
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Abstract
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BACKGROUND:The annual Hajj to Makkah in Saudi Arabia is one of the largest religious mass gatherings in the world, in which crowded conditions within a confined area and the close contact with others lead to increased risk of pilgrims acquiring and spreading respiratory tract infections. The aim of this article was to describe our experience in preparation for and response to the risk of MERS-CoV transmission by pilgrims after participating in the Hajj.
CURRENT STATUS:We took a number of steps in preparation for the Hajj 2016. First, we assessed the risk of MERS and influenza outbreaks in the Middle East during the Hajj. Based on the risk assessment, we established a preparedness and response plan before, during, at points of entry and after the Hajj. Then, we provided advice to travelers to the Hajj on general travel health and respiratory precautions and information on how to report their health condition. The travelers were instructed to report their symptoms to a hotline (1339) within two weeks after returning from the pilgrim if they develop an acute respiratory illness with fever and respiratory symptoms.
PROSPECTIVE FUTURE:We recommend that more thorough and systematic preparations should be made in the future based on World Health Organization interim travel advice on MERS-CoV for Hajj pilgrimages to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in addition to the measures we implemented this year.
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KEYWORD
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