Abstract

Issue/Problem

Religious Mass Gathering (MG) represent one of public health challenges for Health Authorities due to potential spread of communicable diseases. This is much more true during a pandemic as COVID-19. Surveillance is crucial to prevent further spreading of infectious disease related to a religious MG.

Description of the problem

During international contact tracing activities an increase of reporting of COVID-cases with a travel history to a Catholic shrine in Europe was observed, despite travel restrictions put in place. In order to promote public health actions as risk communication, a risk evaluation was conducted. A descriptive analysis was carried out: personal and vaccination data were collected; for cases, date and type of positive tests, date of symptoms’ onset were collected; for high-risk contacts, date and type of negative tests at the end of follow-up were collected. Frequencies were calculated.

Results

Six journeys back from Medjugorje were identified, with at least one positive case. All trips took place between 18/09/2021 and 29/10/2021. 31 positive cases out of 160 travellers were identified, with number of cases per travel ranging from 1 to 11.

Lessons

Religious MG represent an important global health issue. Even though a specific surveillance was not activated, international contact tracing activities turned out a great source of epidemic intelligence and consequent surveillance and control activities led to risk assessment and communication actions.

Key messages

• In the pandemic context, where travel restrictions were put in place, surveillance for Religious MG should be always implemented.

• Cooperation among all the stakeholders involved as Church, travel agency, Regional Health Systems and Government Bodies has to be promoted for specific surveillance in religious MG events.

Details

Title
Religious pilgrimage and COVID-19. An observational report in Italy from contact tracing activities
Author
Ferraro, F 1 ; Frisicale, E M 1 ; Rapiti, A 1 ; Marotta, C 1 ; Bonfigli, S 1 ; Angeloni, U 1 ; Maraglino, F 1 ; Rezza, G 1 

 DG Health Prevention, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy 
Publication year
2022
Publication date
Oct 2022
Publisher
Oxford University Press
ISSN
11011262
e-ISSN
1464-360X
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3192339098
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.