Part of DOH Advisory for Hajj pilgrims regarding MERS-CoV.
The Department of Health (DOH) advised Filipinos who intend to perform the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages in the Arabian Peninsula to postpone or delay their trips or risk getting infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – Coronavirus, or MERSCoV.
“Persons who are 60 years old and above, pregnant women, children below five years old, those who have diabetes, kidney disease, chronic lung disease, weak immunity—they are all at high risk of contracting MERSCoV,” Secretary of Health Enrique Ona declared.
These high-risk groups are advised to delay their trips to the Arabian Peninsula, where according to the World Health Organization (WHO), “699 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with MERS-CoV have been reported, including at least 209 deaths.”
Overall, 63.5% of cases are male and the ages ranged from 9 months to 94 years old.
According to WHO, the affected countries in the Arabian Peninsula include Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia (KSA), United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Yemen.
Muslim pilgrims gather in Mecca to perform rituals based on those conducted by the Prophet Muhammad during his last visit to the city. Performing these rituals, known as the Hajj, is the fifth pillar of Islam and the most significant manifestation of Islamic faith and unity. Undertaking the Hajj at least once in his lifetime is a duty for Muslims who are physically and financially able to make the journey to Mecca.
Hajj is expected to fall between October 2-7, 2014.
Umrah is also known as the “lesser pilgrimage,” in comparison to the annual Hajj pilgrimage of Islam. It is a visit one makes to the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, outside of the designated Hajj pilgrimage dates. The word “umrah” means to visit an important place.
The exact dates of Islamic holidays cannot be determined in advance, due to the nature of the Islamic lunar calendar. Estimates are based on expected visibility of the hilal (waxing crescent moon following a new moon) and may vary according to location.
“Filipino pilgrims to Mecca are advised to consult a doctor before travelling to review the risk and assess whether making the pilgrimage is advisable,” the health chief concluded.
doh.gov.ph