• Guidelines for Hajj pilgrims, 2007

• New radon data for England and Wales

• National Chlamydia Screening Programme launches new website

Guidelines for Hajj pilgrims, 2007

The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) has issued its annual guidance detailing all the health requirements and recommendations that Hajj pilgrims need to consider before they leave for their trip [1]. This is available on the NaTHNaC website at http://nathnac.org/pro/clinical_updates/Hajj13Nov07.htm.

Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca , is the largest annual gathering of its kind in the world. All adult Muslims, who are physically and financially able to do so, have a religious obligation to make the pilgrimage once in their lifetime, and each year over two million Muslims from around the world gather in Mecca [2]. The Hajj takes place between the eighth and thirteenth day of the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and therefore falls at different dates each year. The next Hajj will take place between 18 and 23 December 2007.

The key vaccine recommendations are:

• Proof of vaccination with quadrivalent ACW135Y meningococcal vaccine for all pilgrims is required by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health in order to issue an entry visa.

• Yellow fever vaccine requirements for those arriving from countries/areas at risk of yellow fever transmission in line with the International Health Regulations [3].

• Polio vaccine as recommended by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization [4].

• One of the rites for male Hajj pilgrims is to have their head shaved; sharing blades may increase their risk of blood borne infections. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all pilgrims. Male pilgrims are also advised to take their own disposable razors to prevent infection with other non-vaccine preventable blood borne infections such as hepatitis C.

• Influenza vaccine is recommended by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health for all pilgrims. All those who would be eligible for influenza vaccine in the UK [5] should ensure they receive it before they go.

More details on the above vaccines as well as other routine vaccinations that are recommended are in the NaTHNaC guidelines [1], along with more general advice on how to prevent other infectious and non-infectious hazards that pilgrims may encounter on their trip. The NaTHNaC Country Information Page for Saudi Arabia provides further advice on possible health risks http://nathnac.org/ds/c_pages/country_page_SA.htm. Health professionals should be aware that pilgrims may combine their pilgrimage with travel to other destinations with additional health considerations. The complete NaTHNaC Country Information Pages are available at http://nathnac.org/ds/map_world.aspx. All travellers are advised to seek medical advice at least six to eight weeks before their trip to ensure that they are adequately prepared.

References
1.  National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC). Guidelines for Hajj pilgrims. Clinical update: 13 November 2007. Accessed 13 November 2007. Available at <http://nathnac.org/pro/clinical_updates/Hajj13Nov07.htm>.

2. Shafi S, Memish Z, Gatrad A, Sheikh A. Hajj 2006: communicable disease and other health risks and current official guidance for pilgrims. Euro Surveill 2005;10 (12): E051215.2. Available at <http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ew/2005/051215.asp#2>.

3 World Health Organization. International Health Regulations (2005) [accessed 13 November 2007]. Available at <http://www.who.int/csr/ihr/en/>.

4. World Health Organization. Health conditions for travellers to Saudi Arabia pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). Wkly Epid Record 2007;82 :385-8. Available at<http://www.who.int/wer/2007/wer8244.pdf>.

5.Salisbury D, Ramsay M, Noakes K (eds). Immunisation against infectious disease, 2006 . TSO; Norwich: 2006. Available at <http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Healthandsocial caretopics/Greenbook/DH_4097254>

New radon data for England and Wales

The Health Protection Agency and the British Geological Survey have jointly produced new information on radon Affected Areas in England and Wales [1]. There is detailed information for individual properties available from a new website, www.UKradon.org, and a new atlas, giving an overview of radon Affected Areas by 1 km squares of the national grid. This material replaces the existing Radon Atlas of England and Wales (NRPB-W26). Copies of the new atlas have been sent to every local authority in England and Wales.

The report presents an overview of the results of detailed mapping in England and Wales of radon
potential, defined as the estimated percentage of homes in an area above the radon Action Level.
The work was carried out jointly by the Health Protection Agency and the British Geological Survey and was based on the results of measurements of radon in 460,000 homes. The method allows variations in radon potential both between and within geological units to be mapped. The resulting map, which defines radon affected areas in England and Wales, includes much more detail than could be shown in an atlas. The full detail is instead published as a dataset which can be licensed for use in geographical information systems. The estimated radon potential for an individual home can be obtained through www.UKradon.org. The atlas presents a simplified version of the map, so is indicative rather than definitive as each 1 km grid square is coloured according to the highest radon potential found within it.

Reference
Miles JCH, Appleton JD, Rees DM, Green BMR, Adlam KAM, Myers AH. Indicative Atlas of Radon in England and Wales HPA-RPD- 033. Chilton: Health Protection Agency, 2007. ISBN 978-0-85951-608-2.. Available at <http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/hpa_rpd_reports/2007/hpa_rpd_033.htm>. Printed copy, £14.00 + 10% postage and packing, available from CRCE Information Office (Tel: 01235 822742 / 822603, email: ChiltonInformationOffice@hpa.org.uk.

National Chlamydia Screening Programme launches new website

The National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) has launched a new website at www.chlamydiascreening.nhs.uk . The site provides information on chlamydia screening to two target audiences: sexual health professionals, and to people aged under 25 years.

The website features a postcode finder which enables young people to find their local screening venue. It also features comprehensive information on chlamydia and how it can affect health.