BREAKING! Senegal Imposes Tight COVID-19 Screening as News Emerges That Many of the 1,300 Pilgrims Who Died in Mecca Were Due to COVID-19!
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 24, 2024 6 days, 12 hours, 43 minutes ago
COVID-19 News: Tightening Controls After Mecca Deaths
In response to alarming reports, Senegal has implemented strict COVID-19 screening measures at Dakar's international airport for returning pilgrims. This decision follows revelations that many of the 1,300 pilgrims who died in Mecca in the last few days during the Hajj pilgrimage succumbed to COVID-19.
Senegal Imposes Tight COVID-19 Screening as News Emerges That
Many of the 1,300 Pilgrims Who Died in Mecca Were Due to COVID-19
(Note: Image is of old stockshots and not of the current situation)
Suspected Respiratory Syndrome
Senegal’s Health Minister Ibrahima Sy announced that initial suspicions pointed to heat-related illnesses due to the extreme temperatures in Mecca. However, further investigations revealed that a significant number of deaths were caused by a respiratory syndrome, likely COVID-19. "We realized that there is a respiratory syndrome with the cases of death," Sy said, highlighting the necessity of a robust monitoring system for returning pilgrims.
https://www.voanews.com/a/senegal-tightens-anti-covid-controls-after-mecca-deaths/7667919.html
Enhanced Health Surveillance
In response, Senegal's health ministry has strengthened its health surveillance system by deploying a team at the airport to provide voluntary COVID-19 screening tests. Out of 124 rapid diagnostic tests conducted, 78 were positive, with 36 confirmed by PCR tests. The ministry has urged the population to remain vigilant and calm to prevent an epidemic. Local
COVID-19 News outlets in the country are reporting that for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, various African countries are witnessing a rise in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations not seen in previous waves or surges!
International Concerns and Local Measures
The alert was first raised by the Senegalese medical team in Jeddah, who reported a significant number of passengers with respiratory issues. Charles Bernard Sagna, the chief medical officer for the airport, emphasized the importance of prevention despite the lack of immediate cause for alarm.
Senegalese daily L'Observateur reported that five of the deceased pilgrims were Senegalese nationals, part of a contingent of around 12,000 officially registered Senegalese pilgrims. Saudi Arabia's official SPA news agency confirmed 1,301 deaths during the Hajj pilgrimage, exacerbated by temperatures reaching 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit).
Extreme Heat and Unauthorized Pilgrims<
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Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel revealed that 83% of the fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims who endured long walks in extreme heat. This year's Hajj saw 1.8 million participants, with 1.6 million coming from abroad. More than 660 Egyptians were among the deceased, most of whom were unauthorized pilgrims. The Egyptian government has since revoked the licenses of 16 travel agencies involved in facilitating these unauthorized trips.
A Global Issue
The deaths also included pilgrims from Indonesia, India, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Malaysia, and two U.S. citizens. While some countries attributed the deaths to the extreme heat, the presence of COVID-19 has raised significant concerns. Historically, the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, has faced challenges with deadly stampedes and epidemics. This year's unusually high death toll underscores the severe circumstances.
New SARS-CoV02 Variant In Saudi Arabia?
Experts are concerned that’s there is literally no genomic surveillance being conducted at the moment in Saudia Arabia and there could be the possibilities that a new variant could have emerged in the country with millions of human vectors carrying various sub-lineages and having host issues coupled with millions in close proximity.
Will Returning Muslim Pilgrims Help Spread the Virus Globally?
Concerns are being raised that with millions of pilgrims to expected to return back to their home countries, many could act as vectors to spread the virus.
The Future of Hajj in a Changing Climate
Saudi Arabia has invested billions in crowd control and safety measures for the Hajj, but the sheer number of participants poses ongoing challenges. Climate change further exacerbates these risks. A 2019 MIT study predicted that even with climate mitigation efforts, future Hajj pilgrimages could face temperatures exceeding extreme danger thresholds. With the Hajj dates shifting earlier each year, by 2029, the pilgrimage will occur in April, moving to the milder winter months in subsequent years.
Conclusion
Senegal's proactive measures highlight the global impact of COVID-19 and the ongoing challenges of managing large religious gatherings in extreme conditions. As the world continues to grapple with the pandemic and climate change, ensuring the safety of pilgrims remains a critical concern.
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