23 July 2017
JEDDAH — Health authorities in the Kingdom have taken all precautions to prevent the spread of epidemic diseases, including cholera, in the country ahead the Haj season.

Dr. Muhammad Flimban, assistant director of health centers at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah, has told Al-Watan newspaper that all requirements of health centers at the airport's terminals have been met. He said these centers were provided all necessary medical equipment and supplies.

Qualified medical teams will be available round the clock to provide medical assistance to pilgrims, Flimban said, adding that two teams have been trained to detect any incidence of contagious diseases among the incoming pilgrims. One team with 15 health cadres is prepared and equipped to board aircraft coming from countries affected by yellow fever, such as Yemen and countries on the African epidemics belt, he said.

Flimban said due to the epidemiological outbreaks of cholera in Yemen, some measures were taken at the ports of entry, including the KAIA.

If cholera is diagnosed, preventive measures will be taken to isolate the suspected cases and report the matter immediately to the Directorate of Health Affairs. In the meantime, infection control methods will be followed as per the rules and the affected pilgrim will be transferred to King Abdullah Hospital.

Flimban pointed out that pilgrims would not be allowed to carry any food items with them except for canned food for individual consumption.

Pilgrims from the African disease belt, especially those coming from the countries affected by the yellow fever, will be closely monitored, he said, adding that pilgrims from these countries must carry a certificate of vaccination against the yellow fever. In the case of pilgrims failing to carry valid vaccination certificates, strict epidemiological procedures will be applied.

The health control centers at entry points must report all details of such pilgrims including the name, nationality, passport number, flight number, date of arrival, housing in Makkah or Madinah and the name of the Mutawwif to the Directorate of Health Affairs, Flimban said.

He said the tasks of the team that would board aircraft include ensuring proper fumigation of the aircraft to exterminate disease-carrying germs.

He explained that pilgrims from these countries would be given a single dose of 500 mg ciprofloxacin injection.

Flu vaccines are given to domestic pilgrims and people working in the Haj sites and ports of entry. They should have taken flu vaccines at least 10 days and not more than 3 years before the start of the Haj season.

Select groups of medical staff from all cities of the Kingdom are assigned to participate in the Haj health operation every year. A total of 575 medical cadres will be deployed to work in the health centers at Jeddah airport.

© The Saudi Gazette 2017