Elderly and chronically ill Muslims should not perform the hajj pilgrimage to curb the spread of the MERS coronavirus, Saudi Arabian health officials warned over the weekend.

So far, MERS, which stands for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, has killed 38 people in Saudi Arabia and another seven globally. More than 80 cases of the disease have been confirmed, according to the World Health Organization.

(MORE: The Latest MERS Death Toll)

The hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia — one of the five pillars of Islam that's considered mandatory during the lifetime of a practicing Muslim — is one of the largest mass gatherings in the world, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This year, the gathering will take place from approximately Oct. 13 to 18, attracting 3 million Muslims from around the world, including an estimated 11,000 Americans, according to the CDC.

The Saudi health ministry is recommending that elderly people, as well as those with chronic heart, kidney and lung diseases and diabetes, those with immune deficiencies, children and pregnant women postpone their pilgrimages. Health officials described the recommendations as preventive measures in the fight to contain the SARS-like virus.

More than half of the people who have contracted MERS have died, according to the WHO, making it an alarming infection. It can also incubate in the human body for at least nine days, researchers have found, which makes it particularly difficult to track, treat and stop the disease. To date, neither the WHO nor the CDC have recommended any MERS-related travel restrictions. But both organizations have asked doctors to monitor respiratory infection patterns closely.

Earlier this year, representatives from the WHO called the disease a "grave concern." "We understand too little about this virus when viewed against the magnitude of its potential threat," Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the WHO, said in a speech to the WHO assembly in Geneva in May. "We do not know where the virus hides in nature. We do not know how people are getting infected. Until we answer these questions, we are empty-handed when it comes to prevention. These are alarm bells. And we must respond."

Source: http://www.weather.com/health/deadly-virus-makes-muslim-hajj-unsafe-20130715

Only young boys and girls are expected to attend this time

what exactly is the federal government doing about this threat?

Elderly and chronically ill
Muslims should not perform
the hajj pilgrimage to curb
the spread of the MERS
coronavirus, Saudi Arabian
health officials warned over
the weekend.

may God make them understand cos many nigerians have been blindfolded by the religion they practise.

Cos all these kind of diseases terrify me just like the bubonic plague(black death) of the 14th century.

Tolexander: may God make them understand cos many nigerians have been blindfolded by the religion they practise.

Cos all these kind of disease terrify just like the bubonic plague(black death) of the 14th century.

Smh

Eeya.so sowi 4 dat.

ehya na young guys go go na.any way 6th to coment i will be dia

Pardon?

chidindufrank: Only young boys and girls are expected to attend this time

Small prepuberscent young girls.

#TeamYarima.

Ehen!

AM SPEECHLESS

johndwayy: what exactly is the federal government doing about this threat?

what do you expect them to do before than to remain in denial


have dem don anything before

chidindufrank: Only young boys and girls are expected to attend this time

Its time for d leadas of 2moro to repent...Enough of adults who go there to fix golden teeth so dey can b formaly addressd az alhajis nd alhajas..."let the children go to HIM"

the elderly can go to sokoto na...
To the gravesite of usman dan fodio..
And the sultan can then alhaji them.
That way they save precious foreign exchange ...
Money that will then be channeled to eradicating almajiris from the streets of maiduguri and kano.

Mod u bad oo..so u sabi wetin i wan do before?All muslims tank d mod ooo.I for abuse una ehhnnn.i save dat for anoda day

oops.am nt gonna say my mind 2 avoid get being evicted.

TVT KOKO: Is the so called 'holy land' not supposed to cleanse them of their sicknesses? SMH for these 'Devil stoners'

SMH

Pls go there and trow stones to the devil,and let the devil stone you in return

TVT KOKO: Is the so called 'holy land' not supposed to cleanse them of their sicknesses? SMH for these 'Devil stoners'

is jerusalem not an holy land, are people not fallen sick their ? Grow up guy
@topic, massive annoucement shd be from supreme council of islam in Nigeria, so that those planning for hajj can know what is going on over there

Does wey no get moni sef go dey lie say na because of d disease dem change deir mnd....#AsIf dem wan go b4....(˘̯˘ ) ( ˘˘̯)

Ok

johndwayy: what exactly is the federal government doing about this threat?

What can the FG do? Ban travel to the Middle East?

According to WHO "We do not know where the virus hides in nature. We do not know how people are getting infected. Until we answer these questions, we are empty-handed when it comes to prevention".

Seems there's nothing much the FG can do till more information is available about the virus.

TVT KOKO: Is the so called 'holy land' not supposed to cleanse them of their sicknesses? SMH for these 'Devil stoners'

people die of different diseases everyday in Isreal also, including some from Palestinia bombs. Restrict your comment to the topic and don't derail this tread. If you try it, Senator Sanni Yerima will be coming for your 6-years old sister as wife after the Hajj and he will make her Alhaja.

STOP ABUSING OTHER PEOPLE's BELIEF. That is civilization.

i think there shud be massive orientation and awareness to our intending pilgrims, so that they wud knw abt d virus and the risks involved.. cos this coronavirus nor be play oooo... we dnt hv d capacity to handle it here in 9ja, let alone treating the virus. Saudi Arabia has the highest rate of infected people in the world.

Virus in an Holy land in a Ramaddan season? Something is fishy. Could it be that the religion is a farce after all?

its like this was what prophet muhammad (saw) prophesided about a disease in the arabia that will kill many

FrostyZonn: Virus in an Holy land in a Ramaddan season? Something is fishy. Could it be that the religion is a farce after all?

People die of different diseases everyday in your holy land called Isreal also, including some from Palestinia bombs. Restrict your comment to the topic and don't derail this tread. If you try it, Senator Sanni Yerima will be coming for your 6-years old sister as wife after the Hajj and he will make her Alhaja.

STOP ABUSING OTHER PEOPLE's BELIEFs. It is called civilization and tolerance. Live and lets live.

pistol: the elderly can go to sokoto na...
To the gravesite of usman dan fodio..
And the sultan can then alhaji them.
That way they save precious foreign exchange ...
Money that will then be channeled to eradicating almajiris from the streets of maiduguri and kano.

Money spent on pilgrimage to Isreal too can be used to rehabilitate the people deported to Onitsha by fashola.

I sensed terrorism. a good way to make contact with the whole world in one country. Actually just passing by.