Government asks Indonesian pilgrims to be alert

Jakarta, NU Online
Indonesian government has appealed to Indonesian pilgrims to take care of their health while performing the umrah or minor hajj pilgrimage, due to the reported cases of the MERS infections in several Arab countries.<>

"Look after your health and immunity while on a minor hajj pilgrimage," Deputy Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare in Health, Population and Family Planning, Emil Agustiono, said here on Tuesday.

She said a person could be vulnerable to virus infections if he or she is in poor health. Those traveling to Middle Eastern countries must be alert if their body temperature rises and "must have their health condition checked immediately."

Emil said she had received a report that an Indonesian citizen had contracted the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) infection. She added that if the case was confirmed, the Indonesian government would follow it up."The government would increase awareness and make efforts to prevent the disease," she said.

She said the government would also launch an information campaign about the disease especially among those who are likely to travel to the Middle East.

"We have been informing those going to the Middle East and those who are planning a minor hajj pilgrimage," she said.

Cases of infections would be given a complete checkup on arrival back home, she added. The Indonesian Ministry of Health has reported that an Indonesian citizen is currently being treated at King Saud Hospital in Jeddah for suspected MERS.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq