Enhancing preparedness for reducing transmission and globalisation of Antimicrobial Resistance at the Ardh Kumbh Mela 2025, the world's largest recurring religious mass gathering

Recurrent mass gathering religious and sporting events pose substantial public health challenges for host countries since they attract millions of local and international travellers from all continents. [1,2] Past outbreaks of meningococcal disease associated with the Hajj pilgrimage, cholera at the Kumbh Mela, and of influenza at the Winter Olympics highlighted the importance of public health preparedness prior to, during and after the event. [1,2,3,4] The importation, local spread, and globalisation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an important, but neglected, global public health issue associated with mass gathering events.