Hajj Pilgrims Are Vulnerable To ISPA Caused By RSV, What Is It?

JAKARTA - The long waiting time for Hajj often allows Muslims to worship Hajj when they are old. With old age and having to carry out various busy worship activities, the pilgrims are very vulnerable to disease.

One of them is acute respiratory tract infection (ISPA), caused by several viruses, such as the respiratory syncy conditional virus (RSV). RSV is a virus that can enter the body through the eyes, nose, and mouth, which attacks the lungs.

"Along with the increasing number of elderly people attending the pilgrimage and Umrah3, consulting medical personnel is an important step before the departure of Hajj and Umrah, to increase protection for the congregation, especially for the ISPA, one of which is caused by the RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) in the holy land," said dr. Mohammad Imran, MKM, Head of the Hajj Health Examination Working Team, in Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

RSV can be transmitted through inhalation or contact with the respiratory tract droplets of those infected. Common symptoms of patients infected with RSV are nasal congestion, cough, fins, and mild fever.

RSV is often associated with children's diseases. However, the elderly are also very vulnerable to getting RSV because their immune system is starting to decrease.

According to a study conducted on high-income countries, it is estimated that 470,000 individuals aged 60 years were hospitalized and around 30,000 individuals died at home due to infection with RSV. Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia, it is estimated that there are 24.5 million cases of ARI because RSV in adults are 60 years old, and specifically in Indonesia there are an estimated 9.788.487 cases of ISPA RSV.

Currently, RSV has been associated with a high burden of disease, especially in the elderly. In addition, elderly people with certain conditions, such as congruescent heart failure (Congestive Heart Failure), asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PPOK) which carries the risk of hospitalization, develops to pneumonia, the death rate will be higher if infected with RSV.

However, until now there has been no special treatment for relating RSV to adults, which makes it more difficult to handle. Therefore, preventive measures, especially vaccinations for RSV, are very important things to do.

"Participants groups over the age of 60 generally experience a decrease in Immunity related to Age (ARDI) which makes them more susceptible to disease infections, one of which is RSV," said Dr.dr. Syarief Hasan Lutfie, Sp. KFR MARS. AIFO-K from the Indonesian Hajj Medical Association.

Given the high morbidity and mortality rate related to RSV infection in the elderly adult group is very important for us to prioritize vaccination. Especially for individuals in high-risk populations, including those who are elderly and have chronic medical conditions," he added.

Therefore, good cooperation between the government and various parties is very important to meet the needs of the vaccine, one of which is with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Indonesia. This is because vaccination will protect many individuals from the risk of death from various diseases, including those caused by RSV.

As a global leader in the provision of vaccines, GSK supplies vaccines to more than 160 countries, protecting individuals throughout their lives from various diseases. Every year, vaccination plays an important role in preventing around 3.5-5 million deaths worldwide, "concluded the President Director of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Indonesia, Manishkumar Munot.