Hajj advice
Every year, millions of Muslims – including around 25,000 from the United Kingdom - make the journey to Mecca, Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage or Hajj.
To help the pilgrims undertake this important journey safely, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued a new guidance leaflet, which can be downloaded here
There is also a high likelihood of transmission of swine flu due to the large number of people attending. Pilgrims are advised to continue to follow hand and respiratory infection control advice and “Catch it, Bin it, Kill it”. Click here for further information:
Anyone in the high risk categories is advised not to make the journey this year.
The Saudi authorities highly recommend that people who are high risk should refrain from performing Hajj or Umrah this year for their own safety.
Those at a higher risk include:
- pregnant women
People with:
- chronic lung disease or had drug treatment for asthma in the past three years
- cystic fibrosis
- a suppressed immune system (whether caused by disease or treatment)
- diabetes
- sickle cell disease
- chronic neurological disease e.g. multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, muscular dystrophy
- chronic heart disease
- chronic kidney disease
- chronic liver disease
As well as:
- children aged under five and people aged over 65
In addition, pilgrims should be vaccinated with the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (ACWY), which protects against four different strains of meningitis (A, C, W135 and Y). You will be required to produce a valid vaccination certificate and you should consult your GP if you are in any doubt.
Individuals on medication should make sure that they have adequate quantities to cover the time they will be on their pilgrimage.
The Department of Health has advice for travellers, which can be found at:
www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAdviceForTravellers/fs/en
People planning on attending Hajj this year should check for the latest website information from the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London: http://www.mofa.gov.sa/
