THE Saudi health ministry has stressed that MERS coronavirus is under control and that the ministry will not place restrictions on pilgrims on account of the virus.

Additionally, the ministry has set in motion an integrated health plan for pilgrims by monitoring their health upon disembarkation at all ports of entry. This involves an allocation of SR10 million for investment in new equipment.

Local media reported on Wednesday (18 Sept) Saudi Health Minister Dr Abdullah Al-Rabeeah as saying there appears to be no cause for worry on the health front as there have been no signs of diseases being imported into the country with each pilgrim arrival so far.

He was reported to have said; “We are optimistic that the pilgrimage season will be free of epidemics as a result of preventive measures taken by the ministry,” he said.

Adequate measures have been taken by the ministry which has opened three health monitoring stations at the three entry points to Madinah to ensure that pilgrims entering Madinah are free from epidemic disease.”

Madinah had been the focal point of concern as the last reported death in the Gulf region involved a 74-year-old man in Madinah and one in Qatar. There have been 45 fatalities in Saudi Arabia so far.

Meanwhile, Tabung Haji has reported that a total of 28 flights bringing in Malaysian pilgrims have landed in Madinah as of 18 Sept. This leaves only five more flights scheduled to bring the remainder of Malaysian pilgrims to Mecca through Madinah; the last of which will take place on 20 Sept.

A total of nine batches of pilgrims who first landed and having spent eight days in Madinah haved moved south to Mecca to await the day of Wuquf, some 25 days away.

Beginning 21 September, all haj flights to Saudi Arabia will bring pilgrims to Mecca through Jeddah. As of today 19 Sept, there are 8,138 Malaysian pilgrims already either in Madinah or Mekkah.

The last flight to leave Malaysia for Saudi Arabia is scheduled for October 9.

To date, one death of a Malaysian pilgrim has been reported so far. Village headman Dauk Kassim, 64 died of Acute Coronary Syndrome on Sunday 15 Sept while still in Madinah.