Last Minute Swine Flu Warning To British Hajj Pilgrims

Main Category: Swine Flu
Also Included In: Respiratory / Asthma;  Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 05 Nov 2009 - 1:00 PST

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Health experts from the Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK (ABH), a National Hajj specific organisation express their grave concern about the safety and wellbeing of over 25,000 British Hajj pilgrims who will start travelling from next week to join more than 2 million people from all over the world to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

The health experts are concerned that despite a clear advice from Saudi Arabian Government and the World Health Organisation (WHO) a substantial number of high risk categories i.e. people who suffer from chronic disease, pregnant women, children under 12 and those aged over 65 are travelling to perform Hajj without getting vaccinated against the swine flu which can result in serious consequence effecting the people and the health system.

The health experts are issuing a last-minute warning to the prospective pilgrims that they should be prepared for the screening process that is taking place at all ports of entry to Saudi Arabia. If pilgrims are suspected of having swine flu then they will be temporarily quarantined and if tested positive they will be admitted to hospital for isolation.

The pilgrims must take the threat of swine flu seriously and they should take all necessary precautionary measures to safeguard their health. They should make personal hygienic habits such as covering the nose while sneezing, coughing into a tissue and washing hands with water and soap. They should also utilise the personal hygiene kit that includes face masks and hand sanitizers which will be made available to them by the Saudi authorities at the airport upon arrival.

Khalid Pervez, General Secretary of ABH advised that "prospective British Hajj pilgrims should take lead of Egypt which has made health insurance coverage mandatory for all their pilgrims so that they would not have any problem in getting treatment in Saudi hospitals".

Source
Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK (A.B.H)