Rabeah, Minister of Health, during an inspection tour of the Haj Terminal at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, recently. — Courtesy photo Saudi Gazette FOR residents of the Kingdom, the Haj season has become known as the flu season. Every year around this time, flu-like illnesses spread like wildfire. Even those not performing Haj come down with sniffles, a low fever, and aches and pains. Talking to media personnel recently, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah, Minister of Health, disclosed that his ministry has taken extensive measures to prevent pathogenic bacteria from entering the Kingdom. At every air, sea, and land port in the Kingdom, pilgrims are required to show immunization certificates for meningitis and tetravalent vaccines. Anyone not immunized is administered a broad spectrum antibiotic injection on the spot. Pilgrims coming from countries that are on the World Health Organization's list of hot spots for meningitis are vaccinated upon entry into the Kingdom, regardless of whether they have already received the meningitis vaccine or not, for extra caution. Children accompanying pilgrims from these countries are also given oral polio vaccine. Pilgrims from Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, Congo, Chad, and Angola will receive precautionary vaccinations. Dr. Al-Rabeah added that there are special teams at the airports that separate flights coming from countries that pose a yellow fever, dengue fever or meningitis threat. The entire aircraft is sterilized and immunization certificates are inspected before passengers disembark from the plane. All airport employees and all health professionals in clinics and hospitals in the Kingdom have been ordered to receive meningitis and flu immunizations. A temporary clinic was installed at King Abdul Aziz International Airport to administer immunizations and treat pilgrims who show any symptoms of illness. The Minister of Health has visited patients at the airport clinic and has taken part in vaccinating pilgrims. He reminded the airport and medical personnel of their noble duty in serving and caring for the Guests of Allah. __
