MGMIMass Gathering Medicine

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Assessing health risks and preparedness strategies in mass-gathering religious events: a retrospective observational study[1]

Chi H-T, Liao W-K, Cheng M-T, Chou W-K, Lin C-H · 2025 · BMC Emerg Med

Summary

Retrospective analysis of 1,637 pilgrimage-related ED visits across the Mazu processional pilgrimage in Taiwan, 2018-2024. Case mix: trauma 53.7%, soft-tissue injury 28.1%, heat-related illness 16.1%. Visit volume was predicted by procession start/end days, cumulative walking distance, and ambient temperature — the moving-event analogues of fixed-venue crowd and weather predictors.

So what

The first substantial dataset from a PROCESSIONAL (moving) mass gathering outside the Hajj/Arbaeen corridor — a nine-day, multi-town route where the "venue" is a road network. Trauma dominance (53.7%) inverts the medical-heavy case mix of fixed festivals, and the predictor set (route-day, cumulative distance, temperature) gives route-based events their own forecasting variables. Fills the East-Asian religious-event gap alongside Tiwari (Kumbh RTA) and Ghanbari (Arbaeen); directly useful for any parade/marathon/procession planning page. Free PMC.

Key findings

  • 1,637 ED visits over 7 years of the Mazu processional pilgrimage
  • Case mix inverted vs fixed venues: trauma 53.7%, soft tissue 28.1%, heat 16.1%
  • Predictors: start/end procession days, cumulative walking distance, temperature
  • Route-based (moving-event) forecasting variables demonstrated
  • Fills the East-Asian processional gap with Tiwari and Ghanbari; free PMC

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