In four months, the holy
city of Mecca opens its doors to millions of Muslim pilgrims for the
annual Hajj, with multitudes congregating at the same holy places at the
same time. Others visit during the holy month of Ramadan, which started
this week.
It's a perfect scenario
for catching and spreading the relatively new Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome (MERS), which has befallen Saudi Arabia almost exclusively,
state-run SPA news agency reports.
The ailment, caused by the coronavirus, wreaks havoc on the respiratory systems of those who contract it.
More than half of those known to have caught it have died. Of 81 infected worldwide, 45 have died, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.
Of the total cases, 66 were in Saudi Arabia, where 38 people succumbed to it.
It mainly affects older
men, the CDC says. So far, there is little to indicate that it could
become the kind of deadly pandemic SARS was, though it is caused by a
related virus.
All Muslims must
undertake the journey at least once in their lifetime, and the
government is telling them to add some preventative health requirements
to their spiritual rituals.
Most of them are common sense recipes for stopping the spread of the common cold:
Wash hands, especially
after coughing and sneezing; throw used tissues in the trash; don't
touch your eyes, nose and mouth while in public places.
And the Health Ministry wants people to wear a surgical mask while in crowded locations.
People with challenged
immune systems should avoid travel to the birthplace of Islam for now,
the ministry said. This includes people with chronic diseases such as
diabetes and those infected with HIV.
Also, while in Saudi Arabia, the Health Ministry requests, please, don't sneeze in other people's faces.
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