When crores of people gather in one place, diseases can spread quickly through contaminated water and food, mosquitoes, flood water and close contact. Many pilgrims travel long distances, eat outside and sleep in shared spaces, which makes them more vulnerable to infection.
Medical posts will be available near the ghats and across the Mela area, with ambulances on call. Most illnesses can be prevented with simple precautions, and those that do occur are easier to treat when caught early.
Hygiene and Sanitation
Good hygiene protects not just you, but everyone around you.
- Use only the identified and designated toilets by authority. Do not urinate or defecate in the open.
- Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow when coughing or sneezing.
- If you have a cough or cold, wear a mask in crowds.
- Do not spit in public places.
Mosquitoes and Flood Water
Rain may leave stagnant water where mosquitoes breed, and flood water can carry infection.
- Use mosquito repellent and wear full-sleeved clothes, especially in the evening.
- Sleep under a mosquito net if your accommodation is open.
- Avoid walking through flood water. If you must, wash your feet afterwards and cover any wounds.
Diseases to Watch For
| Disease / condition | How it spreads | Common symptoms / warning signs | Prevention and protective measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute diarrhoeal disease | Contaminated food or drinking water; poor hand hygiene | Loose stools, vomiting, abdominal cramps, dehydration | Safe drinking water, handwashing, hygienic food preparation, safe toilets and early ORS use |
| Cholera | Water or food contaminated with Vibrio cholerae | Profuse watery diarrhoea, vomiting and rapid dehydration | Safe water, sanitation, hand hygiene, rapid reporting and treatment |
| Typhoid fever | Food or water contaminated with Salmonella Typhi | Persistent fever, headache, weakness, abdominal pain | Safe water, food hygiene, handwashing and vaccination where recommended |
| Hepatitis A and E | Mainly contaminated food and water | Fatigue, nausea, dark urine, jaundice | Safe water, sanitation, handwashing and appropriate vaccination where available and recommended |
| Dengue | Bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes | Fever, headache, body pain, rash; warning signs may include severe abdominal pain, bleeding or persistent vomiting | Remove stagnant water, use repellent, wear protective clothing and prevent mosquito bites |
| Malaria | Bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes | Fever, chills, sweating, headache and weakness | Repellent, suitable clothing, mosquito nets where appropriate and prompt testing for fever |
| Chikungunya | Bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes | Fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain and rash | Eliminate mosquito breeding sites, use repellent and wear protective clothing |
| Leptospirosis | Contact with water or soil contaminated by infected animal urine, especially through cuts or mucous membranes | Fever, severe muscle pain, headache, red eyes; severe illness may cause jaundice or kidney problems | Avoid floodwater, cover wounds, wear protective footwear and seek early care after compatible symptoms |
| Influenza | Respiratory particles from infected people, especially in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces | Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and fatigue | Respiratory hygiene, handwashing, ventilation, appropriate vaccination and masks when indicated |
| COVID-19 and other respiratory infections | Inhalation of infectious respiratory particles and close contact | Fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue and sometimes breathing difficulty | Ventilation, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, staying away from crowds when ill and vaccination as recommended |
| Measles | Airborne transmission from an infected person | Fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and widespread rash | Ensure age-appropriate vaccination, identify suspected cases promptly and follow health-authority instructions |
| Acute conjunctivitis | Contact with infected eye secretions, contaminated hands or shared towels | Redness, watering, irritation and discharge | Hand hygiene, avoid rubbing eyes and do not share towels or personal items |
| Skin and wound infections | Contaminated surfaces or water entering cuts; direct contact in some infections | Redness, swelling, pain, pus or spreading skin lesions | Clean wounds with safe water, cover cuts, maintain hygiene and seek care for worsening symptoms |
When to Seek Medical Help Immediately
Do not ignore these warning signs. Go to the nearest medical post or call 108.
- Locate Health Camps: Look for the health post or medical tent.
- Emergency Contact: Call 108 for immediate ambulance assistance.
For diarrhoea, start ORS immediately. Do not self-medicate with antibiotics.
If you fall ill
Early treatment helps you recover faster and stops illness from spreading to others.
- Stay Separated if Unwell: If you develop a fever, cough, or diarrhoea, immediately visit the nearest Health Camp instead of joining the crowds.
- Go to the nearest medical post early. Do not wait.
- Tell the doctor your symptoms and where you have been staying, eating and travelling.
- Rest and stay away from crowds until you recover.
If an Outbreak Advisory is issued
If an outbreak is reported, the Health Department will issue advisories to keep pilgrims safe.
- Follow only official advisories issued by the Health Department and NTKMA.
- Follow any instructions on testing, isolation or avoiding certain areas.
- Use designated medical facilities for testing and treatment.
- Follow isolation or area restriction instructions when directed.
- Do not spread unverified messages on social media.
- Report suspected clusters of similar illness to health personnel.
- Do not believe and spread rumors or unverified disease information.