Viral disease advisory issued for pilgrims

Islamabad

The National Institute of Health issued an advisory for intending pilgrims on the prevention of Middle East Respiratory Virus (Corona) during the upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia.

In the advisory, the institute recommended precautionary measures against the MERS-CoV, a respiratory disease caused by the corona virus, which was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

It asked all relevant authorities including federal and provincial ministries of religious affairs to take appropriate measures during Haj season in order to prevent the spread of the viral disease.

It warned that MERS-CoV could spread from ill people to others through close contact, such as caring for or living with them and in mass gatherings such as Haj.

The NIH also asked pilgrims to take preventive measures against MERS-CoV.

According to it, the pilgrims with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic lung disease and immunodeficiency should consult their physicians before travelling to assess whether making the pilgrimage is advisable for them.

Also, through health education sessions conducted at each Haji Camp in collaboration with the provincial/area health departments, the departing pilgrims must be informed about the general health precautions to lower the risk of infection in general.

The NIH asked pilgrims to frequently wash hands with soap and water saying if soap and water are not available, they should use hand sanitiser.

The pilgrims should also avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth after touching common surfaces/hand shake with ill persons and also avoid close contact with sick people.

They should not eat under-cooked meat or food prepared under unsanitary conditions, and wash fruits and vegetables before eating them with maintaining good personal hygiene.

The NIH also said unnecessary contact with farm, domestic and wild animals, especially camels, should be avoided, while pilgrims developing a significant acute respiratory illness with fever, cough or diarrhoea were advised to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue paper when coughing or sneezing and discard the tissue in the trash after use.

It asked pilgrims to minimise their contact with others to keep from infecting them and said the returning pilgrims should seek immediate medical attention if they develop a significant acute respiratory illness with fever and cough during two weeks after their return.