India may have successfully waged war against polio, but Haj pilgrims from India this year need to be immunised against this crippling disease before embarking to Saudi Arabia.
They should also be vaccinated against the human influenza virus, besides the regular vaccine against meningitis.
According to the Weekly Epidemiological Record, published by the World Health Organis-ation (WHO), all Haj travellers arriving from polio-endemic countries including those from “recently endemic countries at high risk of re-importation of polio virus i.e. India” should receive one dose of oral polio vaccine.
The ministry of health, Saudi Arabia, has recommended that international pilgrims be vaccinated against seasonal influenza, particularly those at increased risk of severe complications, such as the elderly over 65 years of age, people with pre-existing medical conditions, such as those with chronic respiratory or heart diseases, hepatic or renal failure, neuromuscular or metabolic.
According to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States, Haj pilgrims should take extra precaution against diarrhoeal disease.
Long rituals of standing and walking, heat, sweating and obesity contribute to the risk of skin infections. Haj pilgrims should keep skin dry, use talcum powder and be aware of any pain or soreness caused by garments.