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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Circulation of respiratory viruses among pilgrims during the 2012 Hajj pilgrimage
Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 57, No. 7, Year 2013
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Description
Background. The Hajj is the oldest and largest annual mass gathering in the world and may increase the risk of spread of respiratory viruses. Methods. We performed a prospective survey among a cohort of pilgrims departing from Marseille, France, to Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for the 2012 Hajj season. Nasal swabs were collected from participants and tested for 11 respiratory viruses by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results. Of 165 participants sampled before departing to the KSA, 8 (4.8%) were positive for at least 1 virus (5 rhinovirus, 1 influenza C, 1 adenovirus, and 1 enterovirus). Seventy symptomatic pilgrims underwent additional nasal swabs during their pilgrimage in the KSA, of which 27 (38.6%) were positive for at least 1 virus (19 rhinovirus, 6 influenza A, 1 influenza C, 1 respiratory syncytial virus B, 1 metapneumovirus, 1 adenovirus, and 1 enterovirus). This was significantly higher than the 4.8% who were positive before departing for the KSA (P < .001). Of 154 pilgrims sampled before leaving the KSA, 17 (11%) were positive for at least 1 virus (13 rhinovirus, 3 adenovirus, 2 influenza B, and 1 enterovirus), which was also significantly higher than the percentage of positive pilgrims (4.8%), before departing for the KSA (P = .040). Conclusions. This study suggests a rapid acquisition of respiratory viruses among pilgrims during their stay in the KSA, most notably rhinovirus, and highlights the potential of spreading these infections in the pilgrims' home countries upon their return. © The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Benkouiten, Samir
France, Marseille
Unité de Recherche Sur Les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes
France
Institut Hospitalo-universitaire Méditerranée Infection
Charrel, Remi N.
France
Institut Hospitalo-universitaire Méditerranée Infection
France, Marseille
Émergence Des Pathologies Virales
Belhouchat, Khadidja
France, Marseille
Unité de Recherche Sur Les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes
Drali, Tassadit
France, Marseille
Unité de Recherche Sur Les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes
Salez, N.
France
Institut Hospitalo-universitaire Méditerranée Infection
France, Marseille
Émergence Des Pathologies Virales
Nougairede, A.
France
Institut Hospitalo-universitaire Méditerranée Infection
France, Marseille
Émergence Des Pathologies Virales
Zandotti, Christine
France
Institut Hospitalo-universitaire Méditerranée Infection
France, Marseille
Émergence Des Pathologies Virales
Al Memish, Ziad Ahmed
Switzerland, Geneva
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
College of Medicine Alfaisal University
Al Masri, Malakita
Switzerland, Geneva
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Gaillard, C.
France
Institut Hospitalo-universitaire Méditerranée Infection
Parola, Philippe
France, Marseille
Unité de Recherche Sur Les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes
France
Institut Hospitalo-universitaire Méditerranée Infection
Brouqui, Philippe
France, Marseille
Unité de Recherche Sur Les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes
France
Institut Hospitalo-universitaire Méditerranée Infection
Gautret, Philippe
France, Marseille
Unité de Recherche Sur Les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes
France
Institut Hospitalo-universitaire Méditerranée Infection
Statistics
Citations: 100
Authors: 13
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1093/cid/cit446
ISSN:
10584838
e-ISSN:
15376591
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Quantitative