MECCA – A total of 29 people, or 0.2% of the 13,000 Malaysian pilgrims who have arrived in Mecca, have sought treatment at the Lembaga Tabung Haji treatment centre there.
The head of the Malaysian haj delegation, Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman, said 11 of them, comprising seven in Mecca and four in Medina, were treated for pneumonia due to the hot and dusty conditions, while the rest were treated for other problems, including heart disease and falling injuries.
He added that bed usage at the treatment centres in Mecca and Medina was at only 11%, with 4% involving pneumonia patients.
“All of them are in stable condition and do require further treatment. Giving them antibiotics is sufficient,” he said after welcoming the arrival of the first group of 279 pilgrims via the Jeddah Haj Terminal at the accommodation college in Al Fajer Al Badia here.
News of pneumonia-stricken pilgrims filling the treatment centre wards has recently gone viral on Whatsapp, with most of them said to have not taken the pneumococcal and influenza vaccines.
When asked if it was true that the pilgrims with pneumonia had not taken the two jabs, Syed Saleh said that the matter was still being investigated.
“But, based on a random inspection, they (pilgrims) have been given the vaccines,” he added.
He said the pilgrims had been encouraged to take the two vaccines in addition to the meningococcal jab, which is required by the Saudi government.
Meanwhile, Syed Saleh said three Malaysian pilgrims are in a Saudi health facility due to heart problems and lung and skin infections.
All of them are in stable condition, he added. – Bernama, June 2, 2023
