JEDDAH, 23 April 2003 — Umrah bookings from the world over have been hit by the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Travel agents in Jeddah report hardly any confirmed Umrah bookings, and pilgrim numbers are down significantly against this time last year.

The season began more than a week ago, and both Umrah and tour operators are becoming anxious as pilgrims are postponing their trips due to the likely spread of SARS.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) expressed its concern that Umrah pilgrims from East Asian countries might cause the spread of SARS, especially after reports that many countries in East Asia, notably China, Hong Kong and Singapore have been hit by the disease.

“I’m afraid SARS will come to Jeddah; we’re not isolated from the world,” said Dr. Khaled Al-Merghalani, public affairs chief at the MOH. “However, all precautionary measures to contain the disease are in place if it appears in the Kingdom.”

According to him, the ministry has not yet received information about any suspected SARS case. Two cases — a child who died in Jeddah last week and a Filipino worker who came to Jeddah from Singapore — have been tested and found clear of the infectious disease. “Tests have proved that neither was affected by SARS,” he said. Authorities have decided to carefully monitor all passengers arriving, with particular attention given to those coming from East Asia.

Asked whether new German equipment said to detect the SARS virus in two days would be imported, he told Al-Madinah newspaper: “We don’t go by such publicity. We go by the guidelines of World Health Organization and international medical organizations. We have to establish how useful the equipment is before it is imported.”

Umrah pilgrims are trickling in from Europe and America, but not from East and South Asian countries. Fayyaz Siddiqui, chief operating officer at Hajeej, part of Alfaisaliah Travel and Tours, said Pakistani pilgrims had been delayed for a different reason. “This is because of a change in the bank guarantee system,” which had gotten in the way of travel plans of Umrah pilgrims from other countries including India, Sudan and Syria, he said.

As many as 1.9 million Umrah pilgrims came from all over the world last year, including 235,000 from Pakistan and about 50,000 from India. “The Umrah season usually lasts seven months from Safar 1 to Shawwal 15,” Fayyaz said.