By Ziad A Memish et al.
Source The Lancet
Recurring mass gatherings at religious, sporting, or festival events have historically been the focus and sources of infectious disease transmissions since they serve as hubs for international spread. Advanced planning, risk assessment, and updates on guidance to countries hosting the event, and to those from which the attendees arise, are crucial for reducing risk, prevention, surveillance, and outbreak response. Preventing outbreaks of influenza has always been on the radar of WHO and of countries hosting mass gathering events. In 2004, the emergence of the novel Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus, A(H5N1), had focused attention of Saudi Arabia’s government and of WHO because of the nearly 1·6 million pilgrims from across the world expected for the annual Hajj pilgrimage at the time. Fortunately, there have been no major outbreaks from any mass gathering events.
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