Health Requirements from
Hajj and Omrah Performers, 1430

As we are approaching the 1430 Omrah and Hajj season, the health requirements to be fulfilled by Omrah and Hajj performers are:

First: Yellow Fever:

1- In accordance with international health regulations, Omrah and Hajj performers arriving from countries inflicted with yellow fever must show a valid vaccination certificate verifying they had been vaccinated against this disease within a period of not less than 10 days and not more than 10 years prior to their arrival to the Kingdom.

2- In accordance with international health regulations, airplanes, ships and other transportation means arriving from countries inflicted with yellow fever, must have a valid certificate verifying that onboard insects (mosquitoes) had been eradicated.

Countries inflicted with yellow fever are:

Angola, Benin, Sudan, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Republic of Central Africa, Cameroon, Burundi, Chad, Uganda, Congo, Ivory Coast, Sear Leon, Somalia, Ethiopia, Democratic Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Togo, Kenya, Liberia, Sao tome and Principe, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mali, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Brazil, Bolivia, Surinam, Peru, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay.

Second: Meningococcal Meningitis

a- People arriving from all countries:

All person arriving for Hajj, Omrah, or for seasonal work in the sacred shrines from any country must show a valid vaccination certificate verifying he had been vaccinated against Meningococcal Meningitis within a period of not less than 10 days and not more than 3 years prior to his arrival to the Kingdom, provided the health authorities at the country of origin must ensure that all adults and children above two years have been vaccinated by one dose of the quaternary vaccine (ACYW135).

b- People arriving from the African Belt:

African Belt countries are Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Niger, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Eritrea, Gambia, Senegal, and Republic of Central Africa.

In addition to the quaternary vaccine to be given in the country of origin, the Saudi health authorities shall give them preventive doses (One 500mg dose of Syprofluxasine) for eliminating the possibility of microbe entry.

Thirdly: (Poliomyelitis):

1- Pilgrims arriving from countries where the poliomyelitis virus is still existent: Uganda, Kenya, Benin, Angola, Togo, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Republic of Central Africa, Chad, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Republic of Democratic Congo, Ethiopia, and Nepal, are requested to show a certificate confirming that all children under 15 years of age had been vaccinated by oral polio vaccine 6 weeks prior to their arrival to the Kingdom. One more dose of the vaccine will be given to them upon their arrival to the Kingdom.

2- Pilgrims of all ages arriving from countries inflicted with poliomyelitis (Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sudan), are requested to show a certificate verifying they had been vaccinated by the oral polio vaccine 6 weeks prior to their arrival to the Kingdom. Another dose of the vaccine will be given to them upon their arrival to the Kingdom.

Fourth: Seasonal Influenza Virus Vaccine:

The Ministry of Health advises all pilgrims, whether arriving from outside or inside the Kingdom, to obtain the seasonal human influenza vaccine prior to their departure to perform Hajj or Omrah rituals, especially those who are more exposed to the disease, such as the elderly and people suffering from chronic respiratory disorders, diabetes, or kidney, liver, or heart failure.

Fifth: Food Materials:

All food materials are prohibited unless they are few, well canned, tightly closed, or brought in containers which are easily openable for checking.

Sixth:

In case of any health emergency triggering international concern in any country, or occurrence of pandemics of any of the diseases subject to relative international health regulations, the health authorities in the Kingdom may take any additional precautional measures towards those arriving from that country (Unless such country is included within the above health requirements) in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO).