Malaysian Muslims can still undertake the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca this year, despite the death of a suspected Ebola patient in Saudi Arabia, according to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
Jamil dispelled fears over the possibility that Malaysian pilgrims in Suadi Arabia might contract the deadly virus while performing the Hajj, saying that Saudi authorities were well-equipped to deal with the disease and to prevent its spread.
“In Saudi Arabia, there are complete health measures, many hospitals there, many doctors there,” The Malay Mail Online‘s Ida Lim quoted him as saying.
When asked if the outbreak and spread of the Ebola virus would in any way affect Malaysia’s arrangements for the Hajj, Jamil replied with a simple, “No.”
Two days ago, a Saudi national suspected of being infected by Ebola died in the country after having returned from Sierra Leone.
The latest – and the widest recorded – outbreak of Ebola is centred around the west African countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, and cases of Ebola have also been recorded in Nigeria.
Since February, more than 1,200 cases of the disease have been recorded, with 932 deaths resulting from them.
The Saudi government had reportedly already blocked the entry of pilgrim candidates from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia due to the outbreak.
Jamil explained that Malaysia will on its end ensure that pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia are healthy and certified, as per standard procedure every year.
“Everyone who goes to Mecca will have a certificate of fitness, a certificate of health that will allow him to go.
“It’s not just Ebola only, any sicknesses can only be determined by doctors, if the person is not qualified to go, (he) won’t go,” he said.
See Also:
Malaysians headed for West Africa advised to take precautions against Ebola virus
Ebola: Immigration Department not directed to control entry of West African nationals
Ebola: 24 Malaysians moved out of Liberia to Ghana
