Medical advice for Hajj pilgrims
Nearly 6,000 Sri Lankan pilgrims are getting ready to make Hajj
pilgrimage this year.
The Government of Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made compulsory
to all Hajj pilgrims to get vaccines against cholera and meningitis and
to produce relevant certificates and the yellow card to the visa officer
to get their visas.
Nearly three million pilgrims gather in Macca and Madina. In an
environment like this, meningitis bacteria’s (germs) spread fast and
infect thousands of people.
Vaccines should be taken two weeks prior to embarkation. If menigo
coccus meningitis vaccine has been given within the last three years, to
repeat the vaccine is not necessary.
Those who are suffering from hypertension (high blood pressure),
diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease (cholesterol related heart
diseases), backache and arthritis, skin diseases, psychiatric illnesses
and all other illnesses should consult doctors.
Those who are over 40 year old should get blood pressure, fasting
blood sugar and ECG checked. Respiratory problems like cold, cough and
Pneumonia are very common during hajj. Pilgrims who congregate during
hajj carry viruses and bacteria in their respiratory passages.
These organisms spread fast among other pilgrims especially while
sleeping in over crowded and congested rooms. To prevent these, pilgrims
should use face mask while staying and sleeping in over congested rooms
and while involved in prayers and rituals like Thawaf and Saee.
If face mask is not available, use towels to cover the face.
Infection of the gastro intestinal track with diarrhoea, abdominal pain
and vomiting is a common problem during hajj due to consumption of
contaminated food and water.
Contamination of food occurs during preparation, storage, transport,
distribution, serving and while eating due to unhygienic sanitary
practices. Cholera is a very highly infectious dreaded and deadly
disease of gastro intestinal tract.
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