WHO Says MERS Cases Are Decreasing But Countries Should Still Stay Alert

The authorities in Saudi Arabia warned the Umrah pilgrims to postpone their plan of performing the minor pilgrimage this year due to increase in the number of deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome(MERS) virus cases. However, now it seems that the authorities have taken some serious steps to deal with the fatal virus, as a drop in MERS cases has been observed. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed this report on Tuesday, June 17, but the organization has also warned the countries to stay vigilant for the pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia, according to Yahoo News.

The World Health Organization revealed in a statement that the increase in the number of MERS cases that was witnessed back in April is now declining and there was no indication of human-to-human transmission in societies. The health agency of the United Nations also said that the situation, however, is still little distressful considering the fact that the number of visitors to Saudi Arabia is likely to increase in the coming days due to Umrah, Ramadan and later for Hajj.

The announcement was released by WHO after a teleconference between the officials of seven different countries where several cases of MERS virus were reported. The countries include Iran, Saudi Arabia, Netherland, UAE, USA, Jordan and Algeria. So far 284 people have lost their lives in Saudi Arabia due to deadly MERS virus since it has emerged back in April 2012. While hundreds others got seriously affected by this disease, as 22 countries had reported about MERS cases. 

MERS is considered as a cousin of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus that killed hundreds of people in Asia and majority in China. Although, MERS is considered more deadly than SARS but it is less transmissible than its cousin. It is because of this very reason, WHO has not found MERS virus transforming from one person to another person. However, initial investigation of WHO has indicated that close connection with camels is most probably the source of MERS.

Each year millions of Muslim pilgrims visit Saudi Arabia to perform minor and major pilgrimages and to spend Ramadan in the holy land. Thus year Ramadan will begin in July while Haj will take place two months after the holy month, so once again a lot of visitors are expected to enter in Saudi Arabia this year. You too can visit the sacred land during this Ramadan without exhausting all your savings, as British Haj Travel Ltd has offered exclusive Ramadan packages to British pilgrims. 

UK-Based Association of British Hujjaj Strongly Condemns Increase in Haj Package Prices

According to Arabian Business, several travel agencies and companies raised the prices of their Haj packages once again during this year. As a result, the Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK (ABH) that looks after the interest and well fare of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia,has instantly slammed the increase. The UK-based group also said that they support Saudi Ministry of Haj’s warning which states that severe action would be taken against the companies, which are found raising the prices of Haj package this year.

The ABH said in a statement that it is highly appalling that some dishonest and rogue travel agencies make unjustifiable profit by targeting weak Haj pilgrims like disabled, sick and elderly people. The group even said that this nothing but cheating because unlike other travel packages, many pilgrims exhaust their entire life savings to perform Haj in order to fulfill their wishes of visiting the house of Allah.

According to the UK-based group a number of travel agents including carriers are taking “undue advantage” of weak Haj or Umrah travelers and charging high prices from them. ABH added that this deteriorating situation of taking advantage of weak pilgrims has become a serious challenge for authorities in the Kingdom and around the world.

Thus, ABH urged the authorities in Saudi Arabia that they should come forward and save weak pilgrims and take strict action against corrupt and immoral Haj service providers. On the other hand, the Ministry of Haj has made it known that they had forwarded the report against rogue travel companies to higher ministry committee so that they could take “penal action” against them.

If the Ministry of Haj in Saudi Arabia takes an action against the rogue travel companies then, it will not be the first time that they will be doing so. Given that ministry had taken stern action against 52 such domestic companies during last year. The Haj will start in the first week of October, as the holy month of Ramadan will begin at the end of this month.

However, British Muslims will not have to worry about the hike in the prices of Haj packages, as one of the leading travel agencies of the country, British Haj Travel Ltd is still offering Haj packages at unbeatable prices.