Saudi Arabia is doing everything it can to ensure that Ebola, the disease that has caused much international panic over the months, remains out of the kingdom as Hajj nears.
Fears of the virus' outbreak in the country has intensified as millions of pilgrims gather every year for Hajj at the Grand Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, which houses the holiest site Kaaba, located in Mecca.
The holy pilgrimage will be held during 2 and 7 October this year.
Authorities have said that the main drive is on pilgrims coming from the countries hit by the potentially deadly virus. They have, however, insisted that the situation would be under control.
The local newspaper Gulf News has cited Deputy Health Minister for planning and development, Mohammad Al Khasheem as saying that all precautionary measures were being taken to prevent an Ebola outbreak in the nation.
Health workers and medical consultants are being deployed to work around the clock at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, which will be the main entry point for thousands of pilgrims, along with the Prince Mohammad Airport in Madinah.
Those passengers suspected of carrying the Ebola virus, will not be allowed to board a plane bound for Saudi Arabia, WHO officials have said.
Other preventive measures include installing special equipment to screen passengers at different points before boarding aircrafts to check if they were infected by the virus.
Nationals from Western African countries who arrive in Saudi for the pilgrimage will be monitored more thoroughly and strictly throughout their stay and until they leave the country, reports say.
"A WHO team in the three countries – Kenya, Nigeria and Congo – is coordinating on a daily basis with a health ministry liaison officer in Saudi Arabia over the general conditions there. There is no reason to be under constant worry. The health sector is fully ready and has adequate laboratories and trained human resources," World Heath Organisation representative in Saudi Arabia, Hassan Al Banshri said according to Gulf News.
