The Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division (FEDSD), National Institute of Health (NIH) on Friday issued an advisory regarding prevention and control of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) during upcoming Hajj season.
Through this advisory, the NIH has directed all the authorities concerned including federal and provincial ministries of religious affairs to take appropriate measures during Hajj season in order to prevent the spread of diseases.
According to the advisory, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus, or MERS-CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
The advisory also focused that MERS-CoV can spread from ill people to others through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person or mass gathering events which provide a basis for communicable diseases to spread easily.
It said in the wake of incidence of MERS-CoV cases in Saudi Arabia, its travel associated international spread and the upcoming Hajj seasons, it is imperative to institute effective prevention and control measures among Pakistani pilgrims.
Emphasizing the need to have close collaboration on the pattern of Hajj 2017, the NIH recommended various actions. The institute recommended that pilgrims with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic lung disease and immunodeficiency should consult their physicians before travelling to assess whether making the pilgrimage is advisable for them.
It recommended that through health education sessions conducted at each Hajji camp in collaboration with the provincial or area health departments, the departing pilgrims must be informed about the general health precautions to lower the risk of infection in general.
The general health precautions included frequent hand washing with soap and water, if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth after touching common surfaces or hand shake with ill persons.
The precautions also included avoiding close contact with sick people, avoiding undercooked meat or food prepared under unsanitary conditions, and washing fruits and vegetables before eating them.
Other precautions included maintaining good personal hygiene, avoiding unnecessary contact with farm, domestic, and wild animals, especially camels.
It recommended that pilgrims developing a significant acute respiratory illness with fever, cough or diarrhea should be advised to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and discard the tissue in the trash after use.
Such pilgrims should be advised to minimize their contact with others to keep from infecting them while returning pilgrims should be advised through a leaflet to seek immediate medical attention if they develop a significant acute respiratory illness with fever and cough during two weeks after their return.
