General health advice and guidelines for pilgrims
27 June 2023 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a list of recommendations that each pilgrim should follow. These recommendations are in line with the health requirements set by the health authorities in Saudi Arabia for pilgrims in the Hajj season this year.
Physical ability, chronic diseases and health education
WHO recommends that authorities at pilgrims’ countries of origin should take into account that a pilgrim should have minimum physical ability for Hajj. It also alerts to the high risk of infectious diseases in older people and those with severe chronic diseases such as advanced cancers, heart and respiratory diseases, advanced liver or kidney diseases, and senility.
Furthermore, WHO recommends that pilgrims and individuals with chronic diseases should bring a proof of their health condition and the medicines they take, and bring a sufficient amount of these medicines in their original packaging.
WHO also recommends that pilgrims should update their vaccination status against vaccine-preventable diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, varicella and mumps.
Infectious respiratory diseases
WHO advises pilgrims to comply with following health advice.
Wash hands with soap and water or a disinfectant, especially after coughing and sneezing, after using toilets, before handling and consuming food, and after touching animals.
Use disposable tissues when coughing or sneezing and dispose of used tissues in a wastebasket.
Wear face masks in crowded places and replace wet masks with
