Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Azerbaijani pilgrims who will make their annual hajj will be accompanied by medical personnel due to a dangerous virus that has spread in Saudi Arabia.

The Caucasus Muslims Office told Trend news agency that medical staff will be included in each group of pilgrims in an effort to protect the health of the Azerbaijani pilgrims.

The exact number of medical personnel to be included in the groups has not been determined yet. It will depend on the number of Azerbaijani pilgrims making the annual hajj, the Caucasus Muslims Office said.

The Health Ministry of Saudi Arabia has warned countries that recently a dangerous virus has spread in the country, killing tens of people. The ministry urged elderly pilgrims and people with chronic diseases to suspend their hajj.

Officials have also recommended the pilgrims to follow hygiene rules, to close their mouth when coughing and to use cheesecloth masks in crowded places.

The Middle East respiratory syndrome, MERS-CoV, is able to cover the whole Middle East and cause bitter ramifications.

The virus was spotted in Jordan in 2012 for the first time.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued guidelines for pilgrims, such as following common hygiene rules and monitoring their health to curb the spread of MERS during the upcoming pilgrimage season.

The Geneva-based organization said chronic illnesses such as diabetes, lung disease or a weakened immune system could increase the risk of contracting MERS.

Travelers with such health problems should therefore seek medical advice before making the trip to the holy site of Mecca.

The health body recommended that pilgrims only eat cooked food and avoid contact with animals.

This year about 3,600 Azerbaijani pilgrims will make the annual hajj. It is expected that 80 pilgrim groups -- consisting of 45-55 persons each -- will visit Mecca on October 3-8. They will travel only by air due to the developments in Syria and Iraq. The flights will be carried out by Air France company.

On October 3 one flight will be administered while on other days the number of flights will reach three.

The admission of documents for the Hajj pilgrimage started on February 1 and finished on May 30 this year. The hajj pilgrimage in Azerbaijan is organized only by the Caucasus Muslims Office, which offers the pilgrims two types of payment.

The pilgrims who wish to check into hotels with two meals a day will pay 3,250 manats, while those who stay in hotels with better conditions and various meals are to pay 4,100 manats.

The pilgrims who have paid 4,100 manats will stay in hotels with 2-4 persons and use VIP services.

Last year these figures were slightly different. In particular, the pilgrims were offered to make the hajj for two prices: 3,090 manats and 3,850 manats. The pilgrims who paid 3,090 manats were settled in hotel rooms with 8-16 persons and served common meals while those who paid 3,850 manats stayed in hotels with 4-6 persons and served with better meals.

Earlier it was reported that an electronic code will be provided to the pilgrims heading for the hajj in the future. This code will have information about the pilgrims. In particular, if the pilgrim gets lost or in case of other circumstances, he will get information on the location of his group by applying to the designated office.

Every year Muslim pilgrims travel through the packed streets from Mecca's Grand Mosque to the enormous camp at Mina just outside the Saudi Arabian city.

The Grand Mosque, the focal point of the Islamic faith, is full of joyful pilgrims at dawn wearing the simple white folds of cloth prescribed for hajj, many of them having slept on the white marble paving outside.

All Muslims must face towards the Kaaba, the huge black cube at the centre of the Grand Mosque, five times a day for prayer, making a visit to the sanctuary a powerful experience. Pilgrims must circle it seven times when they arrive in Mecca.

The pilgrims also travel to Mount Arafat, a rocky hill where they must stand in prayer, a moment many Muslims see as the culmination of the hajj.

Then they spend the evening on the plains of Muzdalifah where they must pick up pebbles used the following day to hurl at three large walls representing Satan in Jamarat, between Mecca and Mina.

Hajj must be performed at least once in a lifetime by all Muslims capable of making the expensive, difficult journey.