MoH: No MERS cases among Haj pilgrims

The current number of Coronavirus patients is 20 percent less than in the same period last year, with just 417 cases in comparison to 547 at this time in 2014, according to statistics from the Command and Control Center of the Ministry of Health.

This news comes as the Minister of Health Khalid Al-Faleh announced a decrease in the number of cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus, noting that no pilgrims or citizens have been infected with disease during the Haj season thus far.

Specialists have taken this opportunity to stress the importance of increasing efforts on the part of the Ministry of Health to prevent the spread of the virus after the end of the Haj season by ensuring the vaccination of no less than 25 percent of citizens with the seasonal flu and spinal fever vaccinations, emphasizing that these vaccines should target the elderly, people with chronic diseases, diabetics and people with weak immune systems. 

Dr. Nizar Bahabri, director of the Saudi Society for Infectious Diseases, said that this year witnessed a decrease in the number of Coronavirus cases in the lead up to the Haj season, thanks to the great efforts exerted by the Ministry of Health in dealing with the virus. Experts warn, however, that this enthusiasm and effort needs to continue toward the end of the year as well, in order to protect people in the long term after the Haj season ends.
The health minister noted that given the decrease in the number of Coronavirus cases recently, he is optimistic that the disease will not return to its former extreme levels.