JEDDAH: A total of 420,000 pilgrims have been inoculated for yellow fever and polio and 35 pilgrims referred to hospitals in Jeddah because it was deemed necessary by health officials. The inoculations are part of ongoing efforts to prevent an outbreak of these diseases during Haj. Abdul Ghani Al-Maliki, Director of the Health Control Centers at King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah, said the health authorities are closely monitoring pilgrims coming from countries affected by yellow fever, polio, meningitis and flu. He said the Ministry of Health has assigned 600 medical and administrative staff from different parts of the Kingdom to work at these centers during this year's Haj. As per international rules all pilgrims coming from countries affected by yellow fever and meningitis must produce immunization certificates showing that they were inoculated against these two diseases 10 days before their arrival in the Kingdom. Apart from this, the captains must produce a valid certificate indicating that their planes were fumigated at the points of origin. Children under 15 years of age, coming from countries which still have cases of polio, should also produce valid certificates showing that they have received the polio oral vaccine. He said the countries affected by this disease include Nigeria, Pakistan and India. Children coming from these countries will again be given the polio vaccine on their arrival in the Kingdom. He said the ministry advises foreign and local pilgrims to be vaccinated against the seasonal flu before they proceed to Makkah, especially old pilgrims and those suffering from diabetes, hypertension and cardiac problems. He said there are 35 doctors, 40 nurses and 20 pharmacists in these centers providing integrated therapeutic services to the incoming pilgrims. The centers have two well-equipped ambulances to deal with any emergency especially for pilgrims who need surgery. About preventive health measures, he said the centers have an integrated preventive team tasked with clearing the planes coming from countries affected with dengue fever and yellow fever. The teams check the fumigation certificates and also ask the carriers' agent to provide the empty spraying vessels used to fumigate their planes. Meanwhile, Dr Ziad Memish, a senior Health Ministry official for the Haj, said swine flu is not a concern this Haj season, even though it killed three people in Saudi Arabia in October. Against fears of a possible health catastrophe, the disease only had a small impact in 2009, infecting just dozens and killing five. The Saudi government mobilized 20,000 extra health workers in 2009 to deal with the threat, but with the pandemic officially declared over in August by the World Health Organization, Memish said “this year we are much more relaxed.”
