MINA, 13 February 2003 — A number of domestic pilgrims belonging to different nationalities were hospitalized here yesterday after they suffered from food poisoning, the Health Ministry said in a press statement.
Dr. Khaled Al-Mirghalani, a ministry official, said government medical staff had provided treatment to 101 food poisoning victims.
“All patients have left the hospitals and health centers,” Mirghalani said.
“The pilgrims, who suffered from food poisoning, are now in good health and have started performing their Haj rituals,” the official added.
Mirghalani highlighted the Health Ministry’s efforts in controlling the overall health situation of pilgrims. “No cases of contagious diseases have so far been reported and there is substantial fall in diseases among pilgrims,” he pointed out.
Many pilgrims, especially the elderly, have been suffering from chronic diseases such as heart disease, asthma, diabetes and blood pressure, he added.
Mirghalani said all the 22 pilgrims injured in Tuesday’s Mina stampede left hospitals after receiving treatment. He identified the injured as eight Indians, five Pakistanis, two Bangladeshis, two Egyptians, one from Djibouti, one Yemeni, one Moroccan, one Turkish and one Saudi.
The injured included eight women. Fourteen pilgrims died in the stampede, which occurred at Souk Al-Arab St. in Mina at 10.30 a.m. Tuesday.
5 pilgrims run over
TAIF, 13 February 2003 — Five pilgrims were killed after being run over by cars when trying to evade a checkpoint. Having no valid Haj permits, they entered the area two kilometers from the checkpoint and walked along the main highway in the dark, where they were killed by a speeding car, Al-Madinah reported yesterday. Another man was also run over by a car while trying to cross the highway at night. (AN)
