Health alert issued for H1N1 during Hajj
POSTED August 29, 2009 - 15:38 | POSTED BY Neharika Sabharwal
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on August 29, 2009 - 15:58
Hajj is the world’s largest annual pilgrimage in which nearly three million Muslims from around the world head for the holy city of Mecca in western Saudi Arabia.
In the wake of the current outbreak of H1N1, as a precautionary measure to ensure safety for the pilgrims congregating in the holy city of Mecca, more attention is being paid to health issues.
The government of Saudi Arabia has sounded a health alert, advising pilgrims to take extra precautions since there is no immunity for the virus and the risks posed by it are aggravated by crowds.
Saudi Arabia has cautioned children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions to refrain from undertaking the annual Hajj pilgrimage this year.
An official from the Saudi Arabian government stated ''There is no advisory as such...but certainly a caution.''
Quota for Indians
External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash stated that in accordance with the agreement entered with the Saudi Arabia, a quota is fixed each year for Hajj pilgrims from India each year.
The Saudi government has agreed to allow 160,491 Indian pilgrims to travel to Mecca and Medina for the annual pilgrimage between Oct. 20 and Nov. 21.
Of this, 115,000 pilgrims will be managed by the Hajj Committee which will allocate the quota among the different states. The remaining 45,491 shall be selected by Private Tour Operators (PTO’s).
The Hajj undertaken by Indians is subsidized by the government. Those embarking on the pilgrimage through the Hajj Committee have to pay a subsidized amount of Rs 12,000 per person as air fare as opposed to Rs 200,000 and Rs 250,000 for a complete package being dished out by the people traveling through the PTO’s.
Recommendations by experts
To tackle the mounting threat of swine flu, the Hajj committee of India has issued a notice that persons exhibiting swine flu symptoms will be forbidden to undertake the 40-day pilgrimage to Mecca this year.
Travelers are advised to receive flu shots at least two weeks before departure. Stress is being laid on taking seasonal influenza vaccines as well as the swine flu vaccine, once it is available, before embarking on the Hajj.
Health experts are urging for adequate screening arrangements of the virus at entry points used by pilgrims. In addition, Hajj operators have been instructed to educate pilgrims to follow certain guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.
Pilgrims are being counseled to adhere to personal hygiene and are advised to wear masks when participating in the circumambulation, stoning of devil at Jamrat and the standing at Arafat, in order to reduce the risk of flu.
