Mass gathering

Mass gatherings are events attended by a sufficient number of people to strain the planning and response resources of the host community, state/province, nation, or region where it is being held.^[1] Definitions of a mass gathering generally include the following:

• Planned (long term or spontaneously planned) event
• “a specified number of persons (at least >1000 persons)
• at a specific location, for a specific purpose (e.g. social function, public event, sporting event) for a defined period of time”.
• Requires Multi-Agency Coordination

Mass Gathering Medicine is a new field of medicine that focuses on the health risks of mass gatherings.^[2] The World Health Organization through its "Department of Global Alert and Response" supports Member States hosting mass gatherings and regularly receives a large number of requests for technical support by countries organizing large mass gatherings.^[3][4]

References

1. "4º Encontro da Rede CIEVS (Centro de Informação em Saúde para Viajantes)" [Brazil- Conference: The 4th Annual Meeting of the CIEVS network], Mass Gathering Guidelines= OEI, 2010-10-28
2. "Public Health Preparedness for Mass Gatherings". Retrieved 2010-11-04.
3. "Mass Gatherings and Public Health" (PDF). 2007. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
4. "Communicable disease alert and response for mass gatherings" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-11-04.