Umrah pilgrims appeal for regular MERS-CoV updates



Umrah pilgrims are asking health authorities particularly in Saudi Arabia to continuously update them with the latest on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), citing their vulnerability to the disease.

“They (pilgrims) strongly urge all the relevant authorities that vulnerable pilgrims must not be deprived off vital life-saving information about the preventive measures and how they should safeguard their health and wellbeing,” according to a statement by the Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims).

The group noted that lack of awareness of preventive measures against MERS-CoV will make “a vast majority of pilgrims” at high risk of contracting it.

Citing the Ministry of Health, the group said Saudi Arabia has reported 34 MERS-CoV cases this week, bringing to 46 the total number of new patients for the month.

According to the World Health Organization, since June 2012 the causalities have reached 886, including 483 deaths.

“Pilgrims have always been at high risk of contracting infectious diseases due to their close proximity with millions of people from around the world during the pilgrimage,” noted the Association of British Hujjaj.

It added that unlike Hajj, Umrah—a lesser pilgrimage— is performed throughout the year by millions of pilgrims from around the world.

“Health experts stress that prolonged contact with infected individuals within confined space, facilitates the spread of deadly infectious diseases, which are transmitted through direct person-to-person contact via droplets of nasal or throat secretions as well as blood and body fluids of infected individuals,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia once again reminded Filipinos in the Kingdom, especially those working in the health sector, to take the necessary precautions against the MERS-CoV.

It also appealed to Filipinos there to postpone their planned visit to the Philippines if they have MERS-CoV symptoms.

“Mas mainam rin, na ipagpaliban muna ang pag-uwi sa Pilipinas kung kayo ay nakakaramdam ng mga sintomas upang maiwasan ang panganib na mahawaan ang inyong mga pamilya at kaibigan,” a statement from the embassy said.

A Filipino nurse from Saudi Arabia has been the first confirmed MERS-CoV patient in the Philippines.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vietnam condemns China's 'brutal behavior' in fisher attack ---- Agence France-Presse

HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnam's foreign ministry condemned on Wednesday China's "brutal behavior" during a violent attack on Vietnamese fishers in the disputed South China Sea. The 10 fishermen were reportedly beaten with iron bars and robbed of thousands of dollars' worth of fish and equipment on Sunday off the Paracel Islands -- an archipelago in the resource-rich waterway claimed by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. Vietnam "resolutely protests the brutal behavior of Chinese law enforcement forces against Vietnamese fishermen and fishing vessels operating in the Hoang Sa archipelago of Vietnam", foreign ministry spokesperson Vietnam Pham Thu Hang said in a statement, using the Vietnamese term for the Paracel Islands. "The above actions of Chinese law enforcement forces seriously violated Vietnam's sovereignty" over the archipelago, the statement said. Four of the Vietnamese crew were taken to hospital on Monday
Read more

Africa roads are world’s deadliest despite few cars ---- AFP

ADDIS ABABA: Africa has the fewest roads and cars of any region, and yet the largest ratio of vehicle deaths, caused by the usual suspects — unsafe habits, speeding and drinking — but also poor infrastructure, scant rescuers and old cars. As everywhere, speed, alcohol and not wearing a seat belt or helmet are among the main causes of death and injury, say experts. But in Africa, where there are 620 traffic deaths every day, these problems are compounded by bad roads, outdated vehicles, minimal prosecutions and a shortage of emergency services. A recent World Health Organization report found that Africa surpassed the rest of the world, including Southeast Asia — which recorded the most road deaths — with a record ratio of 19.5 people killed per 100,000 inhabitants in 2021. Home to only around four percent of the world’s automobiles, Africa accounted for 19 percent of road deaths last year. “What is worrying is the upward trend in Africa,” said Jean Todt, a former head of the Internati
Read more

Russia captures town after 2 years of Ukrainian resistance --- Reuters

Russian forces now control 98.5% of Luhansk, 60% of Donetsk MOSCOW: Russian troops on Wednesday took charge of the eastern Ukrainian town of Vuhledar, a bastion that had resisted intense attacks since Russia launched its full-scale assault in 2022. The advance of Moscow's forces, which control just under a fifth of Ukraine, has underlined Russia's vast superiority in men and materiel as Ukraine pleads for more weapons from the Western allies that have been supporting it. Ukraine's eastern military command said it had ordered a pullback from the hilltop coal mining town to avoid encirclement by Russian troops and "preserve personnel and military equipment". The Russian defense ministry did not mention Vuhledar in its daily battlefield report. Russian Telegram channels, however, published video of troops waving the Russian tricolor flag over shattered buildings. The town, which had a population of over 14,000 before the war, has been devastated, with Soviet-era
Read more