ALMOST 200 cases of medical ailments have been registered at Bahrain’s clinic in Mecca in the last six days alone, it has emerged.
The clinic was also alerted to the death of a Bahraini pilgrim, who was identified only as Jaber from Hamad Town, yesterday afternoon.
The 44-year-old, who was accompanied by his wife on the pilgrimage, suffered a heart attack in his sleep.
Bahrain Haj Medical Committee chairman Dr Ibrahim Obaid told the GDN that majority of cases registered at the clinic were due to the seasonal flu.
“Since August 11, we received 200 cases, mainly seasonal flu, cold and sore throat,” said Dr Obaid from Mecca.
“Other cases included muscular pain and sprain, skin conditions, diabetic and hypertension patients and heat exhaustion cases. All were minor, while seven were referred to a hospital and they were discharged within 24 hours.”
Dr Obaid also said that Bahraini medics were called to the accommodation where the Bahraini pilgrim died at around 2pm yesterday to investigate the case.
He explained that the 44-year-old returned to his room after performing Umrah at around 2am and never woke up.
“As per records, he died from a cardiac arrest while he was asleep,” he added.
“An ambulance from the Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry took him to the morgue of the nearest hospital.
“The (Bahraini) consulate in Jeddah has been informed and they are dealing with the repatriation of the body.”
Dr Obaid also confirmed that two Bahraini pilgrims, who underwent minor surgeries at Al Noor Hospital in Mecca last week, have been discharged.
Jassim Abel, a 45-year-old diabetic patient, had an abscess removed from his thigh, while Ali Isa, in his 50s, sustained a brain concussion.
A 70-year-old Bahraini pilgrim, who suffered a heart attack last Tuesday and was admitted to Al Noor Hospital in Mecca, has also recovered.
The GDN reported yesterday that a 41 per cent surge has been reported in the number of Haj pilgrims leaving through Bahrain International Airport en route to Saudi Arabia.
Bahrain Airport Company said that 5,625 pilgrims had travelled through the airport on their way to Mecca as of Wednesday, compared with 4,000 last year.
By today, the majority of Bahraini pilgrims have already arrived in Mecca ahead of the main rituals set to begin on Sunday.
The annual pilgrimage, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, consists of a series of main rituals performed over five days and is a once-in-a-lifetime religious duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it.
The rituals include walking counter-clockwise seven times around the Kaaba, travelling back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah, holding a vigil at the plains of Mount Arafat, spending a night in the plain of Muzdalifa, and performing a symbolic stoning of the devil in Mena.
The main rituals also coincide with the Eid Al Adha festival, which this year will begin on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Saudi Passports director general Major General Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz Al Yahya said 1,684,629 pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for Haj this year through all the kingdom’s ports of entry.
He said 1,584,085 pilgrims arrived by air, 84,381 through land points of entry and 16,163 through sea ports.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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