Riyadh: The Saudi Ministry of Health on Tuesday issued health regulations Umrah and Haj pilgrims should fulfill to get their visas stamped for this year.
"The regulations for Haj focus mainly on yellow fever, meningitis and polio in addition to vaccinations against seasonal flues," Dr. Khalid Al Mirghalani, director of Media Relations in the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
He said a pilgrims coming from countries affected by yellow fever should submit a valid vaccination certificate, in line with the International Health Regulations.
The certificate must state that the holder is vaccinated against yellow fever 10 days before the arrival and no more than 10 years ago.
Aircraft, ships and other means of transportations coming from countries affected by yellow fever are requested to submit a valid certificate stating the eradication of insects (mosquitoes) on board according to the International Health Regulations.
The following countries feature in the ministry's list of countries where yellow fever is found: Angola, Benin, Sudan, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Burundi, Chad, Uganda, Congo, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Togo, Kenya, Liberia, Sutomi and Principe, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mali, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Brazil, Bolivia, Suriname, Peru, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay.
The statement said the pilgrims should be informed that they must carry a valid vaccination certificate of ACYW135 against meningitis 10 days before coming to the Kingdom and not more than 3 years ago.
This regulation is also binding on all seasonal workers and other travellers coming to Saudi Arabia from a foreign country. Health Authorities in other countries must make sure that children (two years' old and above) and adults are vaccinated with ACYW135.
The fact about their vaccination from their countries of origin should be recorded in their health documents, the statement said.
With regard to polio, the statement said the Saudi embassies in the following countries should see that children less than 15 years are administered the Oral Polio Vaccine before 6 weeks from the arrival date. Such children will have another dose when they arrive in the Kingdom.
The countries are Uganda, Kenya, Benin, Angola, Togo, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia and Nepal.
On the other hand, in the case of Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan children of all ages should be vaccinated with Oral Polio Vaccine and all children will have another dose when they arrive in the Kingdom, the statement said.
The ministry also recommended all pilgrims coming from foreign countries to take vaccinations against seasonal influenza, particularly those who suffer from heart, kidney, respiratory and neurological diseases, diabetes apart from those have acquired or congenital immunodeficiency, metabolic diseases, pregnant women and obese people.
The ministry also warned the pilgrims against bringing in any kind of food from their countries unless if it is canned or sealed. In the case of road passengers the food cans should be easily opened for checking and only in sufficient quantities required for travelling, the statement added.
