Haj pilgrims are advised taking preventive measures against respiratory infections

Doctors have advised Indian Haj pilgrims visiting Mecca to take preventive measures against infectious respiratory diseases.

Doctors consider ‘Haj cough’ as any respiratory ailment which Haj pilgrims experience on their return from the Holy cities. Precautionary measures should be taken as the respiratory diseases likely to increase this year with several cases reported of Swine flu in early



2017, reports.The risk of infection by airborne bacteria increases multiple folds with millions of pilgrims gathering at one place. 

A recent study on ‘Haj cough’ by a team of Indian researchers from the National Institute of Virology, Pune and AIIMS reveals ‘that cough’ was the most common respiratory infection symptoms among Hajis examined on arrival in India.