Ministers Urge Pilgrims to be Aware of MERS During Hajj Season
3 September 2015 21:26 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Nila Moeloek has asked all Hajj pilgrims to adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to minimize chances of contracting the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) infection. "MERS have been reported in Riyadh - as such, I ask all pilgrims to maintain their health and keep up their hygiene standards," said the Minister in Jakarta on Thursday, September 3, 2015.
Nila advises all pilgrims to maintain good physical condition during Hajj. "Extreme weather and fatigue could put them at risk [of contracting MERS], especially considering that Hajj season is a season characterized by intense physical activities," Nila said.
Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin conveyed similar statement with Nila, and advises pilgrims to consume healthy foods and water - especially considering that daytime temperatures in the Holy Land could reach as high as 45 degrees Celsius.
Furthermore, Lukman advises pilgrims to stay away from camels - a tourist attraction in the region that is a known vector for MERS Coronavirus. "Stay away from camels, and do not consume untreated [camel] milk," said Lukman at his office on Wednesday, September 2, 2015.
MITRA TARIGAN