key: cord-0914559-34ly9oiz authors: Karami, Manoochehr title: Sporting Mass Gatherings: Public Health Preparedness and Responsibility of Health Authorities date: 2018-08-18 journal: J Res Health Sci DOI: nan sha: 0315d46c936fae57ab2056422a65cb60bba986c0 doc_id: 914559 cord_uid: 34ly9oiz . Mass gathering (MG) is defined as "any type of organized or spontaneous occasion that attracts sufficient numbers of peoples to strain the planning and response sources of the city or nation hosting the event" 1 . Published literature addressed public health aspects and associated risks with MG and necessity of public health preparedness as the responsibility of public health authorities [2] [3] [4] [5] . There are several concerns regarding MG from the viewpoint of public health authorities including risk of spreading infectious diseases by participants worldwide 6 . Different types of MG include religious, cultural and sporting ones are held by hosting countries throughout word. Recently the 21 st FIFA world cup, 2018, was hosted by Moscow, Russian Federation from Jun 14, 2018, to Jul 15, 2018. This large sporting event attracted large number of visitors from around the world. Public health authorities of hosting countries are responsible for public health events including potential outbreaks, which may occur during such type of MG. As WHO recommended, hosts of international and large MG should improve public health preparedness to prevent and mitigate the impact of potential public health emergencies with international concerns such as Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and similar infectious diseases 4, 7 . In the process of a MG, the concentration of people may impact the local health systems. Public health authorities of such MG host country should follow critical proposed elements, including implementation syndromic surveillance systems or enhances surveillance systems, educating participants on occurred health events and other activities according to relevant guidelines in light of situation 4,7-9 . Moreover, the spread of some health events which originated from hosted country may extend to home community once participants return to their own countries. This consideration is a serious challenge to countries, which departed MG participants when they affected by an infectious disease with long incubation period 6 . Public health authorities of hosting countries of both sporting and religious MG are advised to consider the risk of spreading infectious diseases especially MERS-CoV. As a specific suggestion regarding Hamadan 2018 event, Hamedan capital of Asian tourism, public health authorities of Hamadan Province are suggested to consider similar requirements. In case of sporting events, it is strongly recommended to use FIFA or other federation's website as an opportunity to educate interested visitors on hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene practices and infection prevention measures. What is WHO's role in mass gatherings? Geneva: WHO Travelers to the FIFA world cup 2014 in Brazil: Health risks related to mass gatherings/sports events and implications for the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 FIFA World Cup: communicable disease risks and advice for visitors to Brazil--a review from the Latin American Society for Travel Medicine (SLAMVI) Public health surveillance and hajj pilgrimage as a mass gathering Health risks among travelers to Brazil: implications for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games Research agenda for mass gatherings: a call to action World Health Organization. Considerations for mass gathering events and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): Interim guidance. Geneva: WHO Mass Gatherings and the Spread of Respiratory Infections. Lessons from the Hajj Public health preparedness for two mass gathering events in the context of pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009-Serbia