The government will take precautionary measures for Hajj pilgrims to help them avoid the MERS-CoV virus.
The Directorate General of Health Services has started preparing a health guideline for the hajis, Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Rehabilitation (IECDR) Director Mahmudur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune Friday.
Saudi Arabia is now under threat of a new disease named Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Between September 2012 and July 2013, 84 people were infected, and 45 died of this disease.
In Saudi Arabia, 38 of 68 infections resulted in death.
IEDCR is monitoring SARI (severe acute respiratory illness) cases through 12 surveillance sites, said Rahman, who is also a member of high powered 15 member expert committee formed to give necessary advice to World Health Organization’s director general.
About 100,000 people are expected to perform hajj from Bangladesh and they will be given a health card to fill up, he said.
The government will provide masks to each haji to wear during hajj and will advise them to wash their hands frequently.
A health help desk will be opened at airports where each haji will be screened when they return from Hajj, Rahman added.
The MERS CoV is not a “public health emergency of international concern,” the emergency committee of the World Health Organization has announced.
MERS-CoV cases have been reported in France, Germany, Italy Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. All cases have had some connection with the Middle East.
Common symptoms of it are acute, serious respiratory illness with fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Most patients have had pneumonia. Many have also had gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea. Some patients have had kidney failure.
Saudi authorities have cut the number of Hajj visas this year, citing safety concerns over expansion work at the holy mosque site.
Those who have performed Hajj in the last five years will not be given visa this year, the authorities have announced.
Also, no Hajj and Umrah visas will be issued by Saudi missions to elderly pilgrims and those suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart, kidney and the respiratory problems. Others excluded are patients with immune deficiencies, terminal malignant diseases, pregnant women and children.
Hajj 2013 instructions advise pilgrims to take complete care while performing any activity including cooking, storing, transporting and serving in order to avoid any of the possible disease including diarrhoea, vomiting, food poisoning, dysentery, typhoid and cholera. It is also advised that hajis properly wash their hands and use disposable kits for shaving.
