The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Medical Team revealed that three Nigerians contracted COVID-19 virus in Saudi Arabia during the just concluded 2022 Hajj despite strict measures put in place by the Saudi Arabia authorities.
The Chief Of Operations, national medical team 2022 Hajj operations, Dr. Usman Shu’aibu Galadima confirmed the development in an exclusive interview with Muslim News in Makkah on Wednesday, July 27.
While speaking on the causes of Common cold among the pilgrims, Dr. Galadima hinted that three Nigerian pilgrims contracted the dreaded virus, adding that they were immediately isolated and treated by the Saudi authorities.
He said, “Common cold or flu is among the most common illnesses here. It’s mainly a viral infection and those kinds of viral infections are highly contagious because they are droplet infections which spreads through coughing and anyone in close proximity to the infected persons can easily get the infection
“This is the same concern they had for COVID-19 because it is easily contracted. That is why Hajj was suspended for two years. Even this year, the population was reduced to about 50% but what we have been seeing is not COVID-19. However, we’ve had only 3 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among pilgrims from Nigeria, they were all isolated and treated by the Saudi authorities.”
Muslim News findings revealed that there have been increasing cases of COVID-19 in the Kingdom since the beginning of Hajj. The Saudi Ministry of Health said on Wednesday that it has recorded 323 COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 808,742.
But the NAHCON Medical Team Chief said there is no cause for alarm, assuring the safe return of the remaining pilgrims waiting to be airlifted back to Nigeria.
…An excerpt from the exclusive interview with Dr. Galadima. Watch out for the full story later…
