Profile of Bacterial Pneumonia During Hajj (Report‪)‬

Hajj (the Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah) is one of the largest annual gatherings in the world and attracts more than 2 million pilgrims from almost every country. The Hajj takes place between the 8th and 13th day of the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar (355 days), and therefore, falls at different dates each year. The gathering of so many people from different parts of the world in unavoidably overcrowded and confined areas for a short period of time presents many public health challenges. The combination of physical efforts, overcrowding and any pre-existing health conditions enhances the possibility of acquiring infectious diseases during the Hajj journey (1).