Saudi Arabia has made it mandatory for Indians visiting the country to have polio vaccination and the immediate impact of the sudden decision would be on Haj pilgrims going for their annual pilgrimage.
A fresh order issued after the recent outbreak of polio in parts of India said that all adults visiting Saudi Arabia will have to get vaccinated even if they had received polio drops as a child.
An advisory issued by the Saudi Health Ministry said all travellers from India, Afghanistan and Pakistan, regardless of age and vaccination status, should get at least one dose of Oral Polio Vaccine prior to departure for Saudi Arabia.
Health Secretary Naresh Dayal told PTI that the government will "make arrangements for polio vaccination for all Haj pilgrims before they leave the country".
Dayal said they will release details about polio immunisation centres to avoid confusion among travellers.
"The order has been issued because there are fears that the adult might carry the virus and transmit it to others. It has happened in Saudi Arabia earlier," he added.
The advisory came in accordance with the recent recommendation of the Global Advisory Committee on Polio Eradication to be published in WHO's Weekly Epidemilogical Record on December 1, 2006.
As many as 531 polio cases were reported in the country this year, compared to 66 cases last year. Eighty per cent of these cases were reported from Uttar Pradesh.
A Saudi Arabian delegate, who is accompanying Health Minister Hamad A Al-Mane to India, said the order will help in creating awareness among the minority Muslim community about polio.
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