Travel to Saudi Arabia during the 2010 Hajj: Information for U.S. Travelers | CDC Travelers' Health

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Health Requirements and Recommendations for Travel to Saudi Arabia during the 2010 Hajj: Information for U.S. Travelers
This information is current as of today, September 30, 2010 at 09:39 EDT
Released: September 27, 2010

Each year, millions of people travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj, a pilgrimage to the holy places of Islam. This year, the week of the Hajj begins November 14.

If you are traveling to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, you can expect large crowds. This overcrowding may lead to an increased risk of accidental injury and infectious diseases, such as meningitis, flu, and other diseases spread easily from person to person.

To help protect the health and safety of pilgrims, the government of Saudi Arabia recommends that pilgrims should be 12-65 years old and in good health. The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health recommends that people with chronic diseases, such as heart, liver, or kidney diseases, complications of diabetes, obesity, or any other condition that affects a person’s overall health, do not travel to the Hajj

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Travel to Saudi Arabia during the 2010 Hajj: Information for U.S. Travelers | CDC Travelers' Health