Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology

Influenza-like illness (ILI) among Hajj pilgrims in 2014

3^rd World Congress and Expo on Applied Microbiology

November 07-09, 2016 Dubai, UAE

Mohammed A Alaryni, Mohammad Alfelali, Osamah Barasheed, Mohamed Tashani, Mohammad Irfan Azeem, Haitham El Bashir, Ziad A Memish, Leon Heron, Gulam Khandaker, Robert Booy and Harunor Rashid

Umm Al-Qura University, KSA
King Abdulaziz University, KSA
King Abdullah Medical City, KSA
Hamad Medical Corporation, 5Alfaisal University, KSA
University of Sydney, Australia

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Microb Biochem Technol

Abstract:

Background & Aim: Influenza is an important health hazard among Hajj pilgrims. For the last 10 years, pilgrims are being recommended to take influenza vaccine before attending Hajj. Vaccination coverage has increased in recent years but whether there has been any change in the prevalence of influenza-like illness (ILI) is not known. In this analysis, we examined the changes in the rate of ILI against seasonal influenza vaccine uptake among Hajj pilgrims over the last decade. Method: Data for this analysis is a synthesis of raw and published data from eleven Hajj seasons between 2005 and 214. For seven Hajj seasons the data were obtained from studies involving pilgrims of UK, Saudi Arabia and Australia and for the remaining four Hajj seasons data were abstracted from published studies involving pilgrims from multiple countries. The data from both sources were synthesized to estimate the relative risk (RR) of acquisition of ILI in vaccinated versus unvaccinated pilgrims. Results: The pooled sample size of the included studies was 33213 with most pilgrims being in the age band of 40-60 years (range: 0.5 to 95 years) and a male to female ratio of 1.6. The pilgrims originated, in order of frequency, from Iran, Australia, France, UK, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, India, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Somalia, Turkey, Syria, Sierra Leone and USA. Except for one year (2008), data from individual years did not demonstrate a noticeable change in the rate of ILI against influenza vaccine coverage, however the combined data from all studies suggest that the prevalence of ILI decreased among Hajj pilgrims as the vaccine coverage increased over the last decade (RR 0.2, P<0.01). Conclusion: This analysis suggests that influenza vaccine might be beneficial for Hajj pilgrims. However controlled trials aided by molecular diagnostic tools could confirm whether such an effect is real or ostensible.

Biography :

Mohammed A Alaryni is an ambitious and a hard working Medical student. During his college years, he has participated in many research activities. He was the Head of the scientific committee of medical student’s research club. He is keen on public presentations and gave many lectures and presentations to junior students.

Email: cescv7@hotmail.com