PETALING JAYA, May 8:
Malaysians planning to perform their umrah have been advised to take
note of the advice and alert pertaining to the Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S.
Subramaniam.
He said Malaysia had neither imposed any restriction nor advised the people to possibly postpone their umrah.
“I read that the Saudi Arabian Government has advised the people to possibly postpone their umrah trips.
“The Saudi Arabian Government has given
such advice, so it is up to our people (Malaysians) to listen to the
advice and make a wise decision on their safety and health,” he added.
Dr Subramaniam was speaking to reporters
when asked to comment on MERS-CoV after witnessing the presentation of
the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) accreditation
award to the Sunway Medical Centre at the centre here today.
Recently, Gulf Daily News in its report
said several Haj and Umrah pilgrimage establishments in Saudi Arabia had
ceased accepting applications from pilgrims aged over 60, as well as
children, following a health ministry advisory which was recently
circulated.
Mers-CoV has claimed more than 100 lives in Saudi Arabia.
On April 13, this year, Malaysia
recorded its first death related to MERS-CoV after a 54-year-old man
contracted the MERS-CoV while performing umrah in Mecca.
The victim from Batu Pahat, Johor died
at the Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital of severe pneumonia from MERS-CoV
infection, the first casualty reported in the country and region.
Meanwhile on the ACHS accreditation
ceremony today, the acreditation made the Sunway Medical Centre the
first hospital in South East Asia to be accredited by the ACHS. – BERNAMA
Post a Comment