Amsterdam: Mecca pilgrims taking unnecessary health risks

Amsterdam: Mecca pilgrims taking unnecessary health risks

The Amsterdam Public Health Service (GGD) says that three quarters of the pilgrims to Mecca take unnecessary health risks.

Their travelers' department advises a thousand pilgrims every year. Just a quarter get the non-compulsory, but strongly recommended, vaccinations. Saudi-Arabia requires every pilgrim to be vaccinated for meningitis.

The GGD also advises to get vaccination against other infectious diseases: tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and typhoid fever.

Source: Trouw (Dutch)