ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4014-8750
Current Organisation
Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital
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Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 13-10-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2008
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2008
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.VACCINE.2015.04.006
Abstract: Influenza is an important health hazard among Hajj pilgrims. For the last ten years, pilgrims are being recommended to take influenza vaccine before attending Hajj. Vaccination coverage has increased in recent years, but whether there has been any change in the prevalence of influenza-like illness (ILI) is not known. In this analysis, we examined the changes in the rate of ILI against seasonal influenza vaccine uptake among Hajj pilgrims over the last decade. Data for this analysis is a synthesis of raw and published data from eleven Hajj seasons between 2005 and 214. For seven Hajj seasons the data were obtained from studies involving pilgrims of UK, Saudi Arabia and Australia and for the remaining four Hajj seasons data were abstracted from published studies involving pilgrims from multiple countries. The data from both sources were synthesised to estimate the relative risk (RR) of acquisition of ILI in vaccinated versus unvaccinated pilgrims. The pooled s le size of the included studies was 33,213 with most pilgrims being in the age band of 40-60 years (range: 0.5 to 95 years) and a male to female ratio of 1.6. The pilgrims originated, in order of frequency, from Iran, Australia, France, UK, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, India, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Somalia, Turkey, Syria, Sierra Leone and USA. Except for one year (2008), data from in idual years did not demonstrate a noticeable change in the rate of ILI against influenza vaccine coverage, however the combined data from all studies suggest that the prevalence of ILI decreased among Hajj pilgrims as the vaccine coverage increased over the last decade (RR 0.2, P<0.01). This analysis suggests that influenza vaccine might be beneficial for Hajj pilgrims. However, controlled trials aided by molecular diagnostic tools could confirm whether such an effect is real or ostensible.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2007
DOI: 10.1016/J.TMAID.2007.07.006
Abstract: Muslim pilgrims going on the Hajj are at risk of influenza. The treatment and prevention of influenza with antiviral drugs depends on rapid diagnosis using a near-patient test such as the QuickVue influenza test. The suitability of this test among pilgrims has not been studied in the past and this study assesses the usefulness of the test for diagnosing influenza among those attending the Hajj. The sensitivity and specificity of the QuickVue test were measured against reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction by undertaking the tests on nasal swab s les from pilgrims. The sensitivity and specificity of the QuickVue test were 22% and 99%, respectively, and its likelihood ratio for a positive and a negative test were 22 and 0.79 in that order. The QuickVue influenza test using nasal swabs is poorly sensitive for diagnosing influenza among Hajj pilgrims. Given its high specificity and an even higher likelihood ratio for a positive test it may still be a very useful tool for influenza surveillance at the Hajj.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 14-11-2014
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 24-08-2017
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-04-2015
DOI: 10.1111/TMI.12513
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2008
DOI: 10.1016/J.VACCINE.2008.07.001
Abstract: In pilgrims returning to the UK from the Hajj in 2005 and 2006, protection from PCR-confirmed influenza by influenza vaccine was estimated using verified vaccination histories from those with symptoms consistent with influenza. Of 538 patients whose nasal swabs were analysed and immunisation histories confirmed 115 (21%) were in a high-risk group for influenza half of these (58/115) were immunised against influenza, compared with a fifth (90/423) of those not at high risk. Five percent of vaccinated 'at risk' pilgrims compared with 14% of unvaccinated (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.1-1.4) had confirmed influenza. Rates of influenza in vaccinated and unvaccinated 'not at risk' pilgrims were similar (10% vs. 11%). Seasonal influenza vaccine was insignificantly protective against influenza in Hajj pilgrims.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.TMAID.2008.09.001
Abstract: Influenza and meningococcal disease are two serious diseases that are especially linked. Outbreaks of influenza have been frequently associated with secondary outbreaks of meningococcal disease. Travellers such as Hajj pilgrims are at particular risk, the most recent meningococcal outbreaks being in 2000 and 2001, while concern is rising that the annual pilgrimage, centred as it presently is on winter, may even become the epicentre of an avian influenza pandemic. Routine vaccination of pilgrims against meningococcal disease using a 4-valent product has been in place since 2002 with good effect, but influenza vaccine is not yet routinely required for all pilgrims despite the high proportion afflicted. Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines are effective in older children and adults and this cheaper product can play a role in the short term management of meningococcal outbreaks due to serogroups A, C, W135 or Y. The impressively fast development of a C conjugate vaccine in the late 1990s was a credit to the close collaboration of pharma, academia and the executive. A similar alignment could accelerate the production of an efficacious and cost-effective H5N1 influenza vaccine through direct transparent competition with head-to-head randomised, double-blinded controlled trials. Both organisms have a propensity to mutate and adapt to immune pressure. There are lessons to be learnt from how we manage each for the control of the other.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2007
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Arab Emirates
No related grants have been discovered for Haitham Elbashir.