Hajj Pilgrims wary of Bird Flu scare

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 23 Nov 2005 - 19:00 PDT

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Fears have grown in anticipation of the fast approaching Hajj, when millions are expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia from nations already heavily affected by the bird flu strain including Turkey and Indonesia.

"We have confidence that if Saudi authorities will discover a sporadic human case of bird flu in Makkah during Hajj, then they will take extreme and immediate actions to protect Hajj pilgrims. But we strongly oppose, the idea of Didier Pittet, Director of Infection Control Programme at Geneva's University Hospitals, that Hajj should be called off, as quoted by Reuters" said, Khalid Pervez, General Secretary of Association of British Hujjaj (pilgrims) UK.

All necessary precautions have been taken by the Saudi authorities to prevent an outbreak of Avian Flu. The authorities have tightened checks on people coming into the country from land and air entries and also centres in three key cities including Jeddah - a key entry point for pilgrims - have been opened to track down bird flu cases. But experts have warned that a global outbreak of bird flu pandemic is likely inevitable.

Association of British Hujjaj (pilgrims) UK (A.B.H.), the only hajj specific organisation in UK, has already raised their concerns to the Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt and Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, about the safety of over 30,000 British Hajj pilgrims, who are travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform this years' Hajj.

The Association has also strongly urged to all British Hajj pilgrims that they should be heedful and take appropriate precautions to minimise their exposure to any health hazards during this years' Hajj.

The Association of British Hujjaj (ABH) is a registered charity and the only Hajj specific national organisation in this country working for the welfare and well-being of British Hajj/Umrah pilgrims. The executive committee of A.B.H is comprised of professionals, including a team of senior doctors who are committed to provide services to noble and humanitarian causes.

Association of British Hujjaj
Southside Centre
249 Ladypool Road
Birmingham, B12 8LF
United Kingdom
Tel & Fax: 0121- 440 1700
Mobile: 07752 721 546
abh12@btconnect.com
http://www.abhuk.com

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