Hostname: page-component-55f67697df-4ks9w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-05-09T23:13:45.954Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Urgent Warning: Evidence-Based Concerns Regarding Mass Gathering Events During Arbaeen in Hazardous Weather Conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 November 2024

Hamidreza Aghababaeian Open the ORCID record for Hamidreza Aghababaeian [Opens in a new window]  and
Hooman Etedali
Hamidreza Aghababaeian*
Affiliation:
Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran Center for Climate Change and Health Research (CCCHR), Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
Hooman Etedali
Affiliation:
Center for Climate Change and Health Research (CCCHR), Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran Student Research Committee, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
*
Corresponding author: Hamidreza Aghababaeian; Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The Arbaeen ceremony is the largest annual mass gathering in the world, attracting millions of Muslim pilgrims each year. However, the event takes place during the summer in Iraq, coinciding with extreme heat and dust storms. Climate change hazards, such as heat waves and dust storms, can have destructive effects on human health, leading to increased mortality and the spread of various diseases. This manuscript recommends measures to stakeholders in emergency or public health management to develop a preventive plan for the Arbaeen ceremony. These measures include improving planning and risk assessment, enhancing capacities, reducing vulnerabilities, increasing knowledge and awareness among pilgrims, developing communication and support systems, ensuring compliance with safety protocols, and regularly assessing evacuation routes. Implementing these measures will contribute to ensuring the safety and well-being of participants during the Arbaeen ceremony in the years ahead.

Keywords

climate changehealthemergenciesdisastersmass gathering
Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 18 , 2024 , e258
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Organization WH. Public Health for Mass Gatherings: Key Considerations. 2015. Accessed 2021Google Scholar
Al Nsour, M. Iraq mass gathering preparedness and public health recommendations. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2020;6(2):e15886.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hajian, M, Mohaghegh, S. Factors influencing the health of participants in religious mass gathering ceremonies in Iraq: a systematic review. Trauma Monthly. 2023;28(1):694–714.Google Scholar
Milsten, A, Maguire, B, Bissell, R, et al. Mass-gathering medical care: a review of the literature. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2002;17(3):151–162. doi:10.1017/S1049023X00000388.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Number of people that participate in Arbaeen. 2023, Access data 2024/02/11; Available from: https://figshare.com/articles/poster/photo6622600995/24131841?file=42335736.Google Scholar
Al-Ansari, F, Al Ansari, M, Hill-Cawthorne, GA, et al. Arbaeen public health concerns: a pilot cross-sectional survey. Trav Med Infect Dis. 2020;35:101546.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Karampourian, A, Ghomian, Z, Khorasani-Zavareh, D. Exploring challenges of health system preparedness for communicable diseases in Arbaeen mass gathering: a qualitative study. F1000 Research. 2018;7:1448. doi:10.12688/f1000research.15290.1.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Karbala Temperature History. 2023, Access data 2024/02/11; Available from: https://weatherspark.com/h/y/103205/2023/Historical-Weather-during-2023-in-Karbala-Iraq#Figures-Temperature.Google Scholar
Aghababaeian, H, Ostadtaghizadeh, A, Ardalan, A, et al. Global health impacts of dust storms: a systematic review. Environ Health Insights. 2021;15:11786302211018390.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Campbell, S, Remenyi, TA, White, CJ, et al. Heatwave and health impact research: a global review. Health & Place. 2018;53:208–210.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rouleau, K, Henry, B, Schwartz, B. Preparing for mass gatherings. Disaster Prep Health Care Fac. 2013:246.Google Scholar
Global Center for Mass Gatherings Medicine. Access data 2024/02/11]; Available from: https://gcmgm.moh.gov.sa/en/About/Pages/default.aspx.Google Scholar
Khan, AA, Aljohani, M. Mass Gatherings. Ciottone’s Disaster Medicine. Elsevier; 2024:380–387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Karampourian, A, Ghomian, Z, Khorasani-Zavareh, D. Qualitative study of health system preparedness for traumatic incidents in a religious mass gathering. Injury. 2019;50(5):1097–1104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lund, A, Gutman, SJ, Turris, SA. Mass gathering medicine: a practical means of enhancing disaster preparedness in Canada. Can J Emerg Med. 2011;13(4):231–236.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Memish, ZA, Stephens, GM, Steffen, R, et al. Emergence of medicine for mass gatherings: lessons from the Hajj. Lancet Infect Dis. 2012;12(1):56–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Soomaroo, L, Murray, V. Disasters at mass gatherings: lessons from history. PLoS Currents. 2012; 4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Organization WH. Public Health for Mass Gatherings: Key Considerations. 2015.Google Scholar
Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering. 2014 [cited accessed 2024/02/11; Available from: https://ndma.gov.in/sites/default/files/PDF/Reports/managingcrowdsguide.pdf.Google Scholar
Brown, JF, Smith, JG, Tataris, K. Medical management of mass gatherings. Emergency Medical Services: Clinical Practice and Systems Oversight. 2015:264–271.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jensen, J, Thompson, S. The incident command system: a literature review. Disasters. 2016;40(1):158–182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Madzimbamuto, F. A hospital response to a soccer stadium stampede in Zimbabwe. EMJ. 2023;556.200;20(6).Google Scholar
Karampourian, A, Ghomian, Z, Khorasani-Zavareh, D. Exploring challenges of health system preparedness for communicable diseases in Arbaeen mass gathering: a qualitative study. F1000 Research. 2018; 7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Memish, ZA, Steffen, R, White, P, et al. Mass gatherings medicine: public health issues arising from mass gathering religious and sporting events. Lancet. 2019;393(10185):2073–2084.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Control CfD, Prevention. Communities, Schools, Workplaces, & Events. Accessed June 2020.Google Scholar
Ahmed, QA, Arabi, YM, Memish, ZA. Health risks at the Hajj. Lancet. 2006;367(9515):1008–1015.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Olapade-Olaopa, EO, Alonge, TO, Amanor-Boadu, SD, et al. On-site physicians at a major sporting event in Nigeria. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2006;21(1):40–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grange, JT, Baumann, GW, Vaezazizi, R. On-site physicians reduce ambulance transports at mass gatherings. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2003;7(3):322–326.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Arbon, P. Mass-gathering medicine: a review of the evidence and future directions for research. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2007;22(2):131–135.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Elliott, D, Smith, D. Football stadia disasters in the United Kingdom: learning from tragedy? Indust Environ Crisis Quart. 1993;7(3):205-29 1993.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Garcia, L-M. Pathological crowds: affect and danger in responses to the Love Parade disaster at Duisburg. Dancecult: Journal of Electronic Dance Music Culture. 2011;2(1).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ackermann, O, Lahm, A, Pfohl, M, et al. Patient care at the 2010 Love Parade in Duisburg, Germany: clinical experiences. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International. 2011;108(28-29):483.Google ScholarPubMed
Martin, T. The Ramstein airshow disaster. Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps. 1990;136(1):19–26.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed