TWO ARTICLES ON EBOLA CONCERNS DURING THE HAJJ

Al Jazeera                              Oct 5, 2014

Millions of pilgrims from all corners of the world traveled to Saudi Arabia for the start of the hajj in the past week, but some West African Muslims will not be able to take part in the sacred journey this year because of public health fears surrounding the Ebola outbreak.

Saudi Arabia issued a travel ban on citizens of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone as what it called a “precautionary measure,” saying the risk of Ebola infection is too high for travelers from those countries to be allowed entry now.

The Ebola-stricken countries each have sizable Muslim populations... Saudi authorities have turned down about 7,000 requests for hajj visas from the three countries because of Ebola concerns, according to the United Nations.

Acting Saudi Minister of Health Adel bin Mohamed Faqih visited several hospitals and health care centers in Mecca and surrounding cities on Wednesday. “Thankfully, the health status of all pilgrims is reassuring,” he said

 Saudi officials have ramped up screening precautions at airports and have nearly doubled the number of health personnel at medical checkpoints.

As well as refusing visas to those from the three countries worst hit by Ebola, Saudi authorities asked all visitors to fill out medical screening cards and detail their travels over the past three weeks.

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/10/3/ebola-s-shadow-extendstowouldbemeccapilgrims.html

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BBC              Oct. 5, 2014

SAUDI OFFICIALS PLAY DOWN THE THREAT

As well as refusing visas to those from the three countries worst hit by Ebola, Saudi authorities asked all visitors to fill out medical screening cards and detail their travels over the past three weeks.

But Ebola is not the only disease concerning the Saudi government.

MERS, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, hit Saudi Arabia badly in the spring of this year.

Since 2012, there have been more than 750 cases of MERS in the country. Of this total 319 people died, some of whom were health workers.

 See full story
 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29461229