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Travel health

Advising Hajj and Umrah travellers in general practice

02 April 2020
Travel Health
02 April 2020
Volume 31 · Issue 4

Abstract

Hajj and Umrah are important events for our Muslim travellers. Mary Gawthrop provides an overview of the key considerations when providing travel advice to this group

Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca), is one of the largest global gatherings of its kind, and this year it is expected to take place between 28 July and 2 August 2020. Umrah is a smaller pilgrimage that can be performed at any time of year. Both of these events pose specific risks for travellers. Crowded conditions increase the risk of exposure to infections and viruses, including meningitis, TB and, potentially, COVID-19. Travellers also need to consider food and water hygiene, and their physical fitness. Practice nurses giving travel advice need to stay up to date with the latest developments and regulations from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca), Islam's holiest city, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). It is a mandatory religious duty that all Muslims are expected to carry out at least once in their lifetime, provided they are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey (All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hajj and Umrah, 2019).

The Hajj is one of the largest global gatherings of its kind (TravelHealthPro, 2019) and is the fifth pillar of Islam. Hajj is performed during a 5-day period from the 8th through the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Muslim lunar calendar (Muslim Council of Britain, 2018). Consequently, the date of Hajj changes every year. The approximate dates for the Hajj this year are 28 July to 2 August 2020 (Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 2020).

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