SAUDI ARABIA-HEALTH EBOLA Saudi hospitals prepare for largest annual gathering in holy city of Mecca
Record ID:
189531
SAUDI ARABIA-HEALTH EBOLA Saudi hospitals prepare for largest annual gathering in holy city of Mecca
- Title: SAUDI ARABIA-HEALTH EBOLA Saudi hospitals prepare for largest annual gathering in holy city of Mecca
- Date: 30th September 2014
- Summary: MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (SEPTEMBER 30, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF AMBULANCE PULLING INTO HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ENTRANCE LOGO READING (English and Arabic): "MINISTRY OF HEALTH" SAUDI RED CRESCENT TAKING PATIENT ON STRETCHER FROM AMBULANCE INTO HOSPITAL ENTRANCE OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, READING (Arabic): "EMERGENCY ENTRANCE" STAFF AND PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH HOSPITAL CORRIDOR PATIENT IN HOSPITAL BED VITAL SIGNS MONITORING SCREEN VARIOUS OF ELDERLY PATIENT IN HOSPITAL BED PATIENT'S HAND WITH INTRAVENOUS LIQUID DRIP IN HIS HAND (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN AL-NOOR SPECIALIST HOSPITAL, DR. HASSAN BOKHARI, SAYING: "Mainly we are concerned about Ebola because it's a very infectious disease, so we created a different pathway for patients and (set-up) a completely isolated room for that situation." VARIOUS OF MEDICAL TEAM TREATING PATIENT VARIOUS OF PATIENT IN HOSPITAL BED VARIOUS OF VITAL SIGNS MONITORING SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN AL-NOOR SPECIALIST HOSPITAL, DR. HASSAN BOKHARI, SAYING: "There (are) no reported cases, either Corona or Ebola, in this hospital, in our emergency department, so far. May we ask Allah to prevent that from happening." PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH HOSPITAL CORRIDOR VARIOUS OF INFORMATION SIGNS WARNING OF CORONA VIRUS VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF AL-NOOR SPECIALIST HOSPITAL
- Embargoed: 15th October 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAAO0N6AAYH16B86VN1BLDED3ZG
- Story Text: The Muslim world's holiest city is getting ready to receive millions of people from around the world to perform the annual Haj, or pilgrimage, in Mecca.
With the threat of Ebola looming, hospitals in the city are preparing special wards to receive patients who may be infected.
"Mainly we are concerned about Ebola because it's a very infectious disease, so we created a different pathway for patients and (set-up) a completely isolated room for that situation," Dr. Hassan Bokhari, the head of the emergency department at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital told Reuters TV.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia, which has barred pilgrims from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea from the Haj, due to Ebola concerns, said it would allow Nigerians to attend, suggesting the smaller outbreak there was less worrying.
At least 3,091 people have died from Ebola since the West African outbreak was first identified in Guinea six months ago.
A further eight people have died in Nigeria, out of 23 cases, and there has been one confirmed case in Senegal.
There are no approved Ebola vaccines or treatments.
"There (are) no reported cases, either Corona or Ebola, in this hospital, in our emergency department, so far. May we ask Allah to prevent that from happening," Bokhari said.
Saudi Arabia said in April it would not issue visas for the 2014 Haj to pilgrims from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea due to the Ebola outbreak in those countries.
Millions travel to Mecca each year for the Haj pilgrimage that all Muslims must perform at least once in their lifetime, if they are able.
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