The incidence of vaccine preventable influenza-like illness and medicationuse among Pakistani pilgrims to the Haj in Saudi Arabia

Over the 33-day duration of the 1999 Haj in Saudi Arabia, we collected dail y health status reports for 2070 Pakistani pilgrims over 13 years of age, 5 4% of whom had elected to receive influenza vaccine immediately before depa rting for the Haj. We calculated vaccine preventable outcome incidence as t he difference in attack rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated persons. The incidences of vaccine preventable influenza-like illness (sore throat i n combination with cough or fever of at least 38 degrees C), fever, and any symptom of upper respiratory infection were 22, 17, and 24 per 100 pilgrim s per Haj. For every 100 persons who attended the Haj, 17 had a course of a ntibiotics and 23 had a course of nonprescription cold medication that was preventable with influenza vaccine use, influenza leads to significant morb idity and medication use among Haj pilgrims. Vaccine against influenza shou ld be considered for pilgrims before entry into Saudi Arabia. (C) 2000 Publ ished by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.