MANILA, Philippines - Filipino Muslims were advised yesterday to defer their Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia to avoid getting infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Health Secretary Enrique Ona said the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 209 deaths from a total of 699 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with MERS-CoV.
“Persons who are 60 years old and above, pregnant women, children below five years, those who have chronic diseases like diabetes and have very weak immunity are at high risk of contracting MERS-CoV,” he said.
Ona urged Filipino Muslims, particularly those considered at high risk, to reconsider their planned Hajj or Umrah.
“We know that Hajj is like a panata for every Muslim, but those who have done it before or those who are planning to go on pilgrimage for the first time can still do it next year,” he said.
Ona said other Muslim countries have issued a similar advisory requesting their nationals against going on Hajj from September to October this year.
Many Muslims from MERS-CoV-affected countries will be participating in the pilgrimage, he added.
National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) director Dimapuno Datu-Ramos said they have recorded for this year the largest number of Filipino pilgrims participating in the Hajj.