The government of Saudi Arabia has laid down health criteria for Umrah and Hajj pilgrims for this season as a precautionary measure against the MERS-coronavirus, which has claimed 38 lives in the kingdom.
It has urged elderly people, pregnant women, children and those afflicted with chronic diseases like aliments related to the heart, kidneys and the respiratory system, and diabetes to postpone Umrah and Hajj this year, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Pilgrims should get vaccinated against meningitis 10 days before coming to the kingdom and produce a certificate to this effect. They should also get vaccinated against seasonal influenza and polio.
