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28 March 2024

5 health tips for Umrah pilgrims

She received treatment for a year after the wrong diagnosis, she alleges. (Shutterstock)

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By Staff

The month of Ramadan is one of the peak times for Umrah, the pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia.

Many Muslims are expected to go from the UAE to the Kingdom this summer.

Health experts have advised pilgrims to safeguard their health against the risk of deadly infectious diseases, such as Coronavirus and Meningitis.

The Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK (ABH), a national Hajj/Umrah specific organization has issued a warning to visitors to the holy places this year, explaining how infections can be avoided.

“Umrah pilgrims have always been vulnerable and at high risk of contracting these diseases due to crowded conditions at ceremonies, accommodation sites, and on public transport. These lethal infectious diseases can be transmitted through direct person-to-person contact via droplets of nasal or throat secretions of infected individuals.

“Close and prolonged contact (e.g. sneezing and coughing on someone or sharing an affected person’s used utensil) facilitates the spread of infection,” the organisation explained.

There are several ways to avoid infections, tip several health experts:

• Avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections;

• Wash hands frequently, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment;

• Adhere to food safety and hygiene rules, for example avoid undercooked meats, raw fruits and vegetables unless they have been peeled, or unsafe water;

• Avoid close contact with live farm or wild animals.

• Use clean tissues to cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and dispose the tissues after use.

“It is important to take the health threat of these infectious diseases seriously,” added the ABH. “If you develop a significant acute respiratory illness with fever, cough and flu like symptoms, you should seek medical assistance without any delay.”

Infection with the Mers virus most commonly presents itself as acute pneumonia, with symptoms such as fever, cough, and breathing difficulties, while atypical symptoms such as diarrhoea have also been recorded in patients with immuno-suppression. Infection with the virus has also caused kidney failure.

The health experts also reminded pilgrims suffering from diabetes and other chronic diseases with low body immune system about the high risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) due to excessive physical activities being undertaken amongst a large crowded environment. They need to protect themselves from the sun, dehydration, exhaustion, foot problems, respiratory and bronchial illnesses.