Title |
Viral respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims in 2013
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Published in |
Virologica Sinica, November 2014
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DOI | 10.1007/s12250-014-3507-x |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Osamah Barasheed, Harunor Rashid, Mohammad Alfelali, Mohamed Tashani, Mohammad Azeem, Hamid Bokhary, Nadeen Kalantan, Jamil Samkari, Leon Heron, Jen Kok, Janette Taylor, Haitham El Bashir, Ziad A. Memish, Elizabeth Haworth, Edward C. Holmes, Dominic E. Dwyer, Atif Asghar, Robert Booy |
Abstract |
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has emerged in the Arabian Gulf region, with its epicentre in Saudi Arabia, the host of the 'Hajj' which is the world's the largest mass gathering. Transmission of MERS-CoV at such an event could lead to its rapid worldwide dissemination. Therefore, we studied the frequency of viruses causing influenza-like illnesses (ILI) among participants in a randomised controlled trial at the Hajj 2013. We recruited 1038 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia, Australia and Qatar during the first day of Hajj and followed them closely for four days. A nasal swab was collected from each pilgrim who developed ILI. Respiratory viruses were detected using multiplex RT-PCR. ILI occurred in 112/1038 (11%) pilgrims. Their mean age was 35 years, 49 (44%) were male and 35 (31%) had received the influenza vaccine pre-Hajj. Forty two (38%) pilgrims had laboratory-confirmed viral infections; 28 (25%) rhinovirus, 5 (4%) influenza A, 2 (2%) adenovirus, 2 (2%) human coronavirus OC43/229E, 2 (2%) parainfluenza virus 3, 1 (1%) parainfluenza virus 1, and 2 (2%) dual infections. No MERS-CoV was detected in any sample. Rhinovirus was the commonest cause of ILI among Hajj pilgrims in 2013. Infection control and appropriate vaccination are necessary to prevent transmission of respiratory viruses at Hajj and other mass gatherings. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Australia | 2 | 29% |
United States | 1 | 14% |
Unknown | 4 | 57% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 5 | 71% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 29% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 103 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Researcher | 18 | 17% |
Student > Master | 14 | 14% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 11 | 11% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 7 | 7% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 6 | 6% |
Other | 15 | 15% |
Unknown | 32 | 31% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 31 | 30% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 7 | 7% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 7 | 7% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 4 | 4% |
Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 3 | 3% |
Other | 13 | 13% |
Unknown | 38 | 37% |