Dr. Ziad Memish pointed out that the pilgrims' health status till the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah is reassuring, May Allah be praised, confirming that no epidemic or quarantine diseases have been detected. Thus, the Ministry of Health (MOH) keeps thorough surveillance and monitoring, through the field and epidemic rooms, as well as the MOH Command and Control Center.
On the other hand, Dr. Memish referred that determining the two states, which the MOH recommended denying entry to their pilgrims during this year's Hajj, is attributed to detecting dangerous diseases in them; currently there are no preventive or curative procedures for them. More importantly, these infectious diseases caused a high mortality rate. And he pointed out that through the scientific committee of the Ministry, and after detecting these diseases, it recommended denying entry to the pilgrims of these two states.
Dr. Memish said, at a press conference held today, “The Ministry of Health (MOH) tackles any suspected infectious disease in a swift and quick way; through the electronic registration and dispatching the field teams to take samples; and have them verified in the laboratories; and tackle them via ten mobile isolation rooms.”
Dr. Memish revealed that the Ministry of Health, every year, conducts a set of intimate scientific researches in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO). It includes identifying the causes of gastroenteritis and respiratory system infection. He also referred that this year's main research is to focus on identifying how the pilgrims are committed to taking the required vaccinations through knowing the immunity rate in the blood. And this is taken place through taking scientific random samples from all the pilgrims.
Dr. Memish added that the size of samples before the Hajj reached (1700) random samples, confirming that at the end of the year other random samples are to be taken from the pilgrims; the results of this scientific research will be published later.