Q

a href="/node/658480">Quarantined: A doctor examines a patient suspected of having the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), in an isolation ward at the Adam Malik General Hospital in Medan in May 9 file photo. on Friday. The hospital received four more patients suspected of having the virus, taking the total number of patients to six. (Antara/Septianda Perdana) - With the Ramadhan fasting month approaching, the Health Ministry warned would-be pilgrims who plan to travel to Saudi Arabia for umrah (minor haj pilgrimage) about the risk of contracting the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

'€œThis virus comes from the Middle East and we know that many of our people go to the Middle East for umrah, especially during the Ramadhan fasting month,'€ Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek said on Tuesday.

Globally, some 1,200 people have been infected with MERS and some 450 have died since the virus first emerged in 2012.

During the 2012-2013 period, however, no Indonesian pilgrims who went on umrah or haj were reported to have contracted the disease. The spread of the disease only started to escalate in 2014, with two Indonesians diagnosed with the disease while traveling to Saudi Arabia.

One of them died after being treated for seven days at King Saud Hospital in Jeddah.

The ministry'€™s research and development agency head Tjandra Yoga Aditama has also cautioned would-be pilgrims about the possibility of contracting the disease.

'€œMost patients got infected while traveling to Saudi Arabia. That'€™s why umrah pilgrims from our country have to be careful during Ramadhan,'€ he said.

There is no vaccine for MERS, which has a mortality rate of 35 percent, according to the WHO.

MERS belongs to the family of coronaviruses that includes the common cold and SARS and can cause fever, breathing problems, pneumonia and kidney failure. The virus has spread primarily through contact with camels, but it can also spread through human fluids.

With such a high mortality rate, Nila said there were some basic preventive procedures that Muslims could take while in Saudi Arabia.

'€œWhile you are there, wash your hands often,'€ she said.

Nila also suggested pilgrims use masks to cover their noses and mouths.

'€œIn the past it was said that pilgrims should not wear masks. But [with such health risks], I think it'€™s better to wear one,'€ said she.

Nila also said that people should pay attention closely to the symptoms of MERS.

'€œIf you get a fever, immediately seek medical attention,'€ she said.

As of Tuesday, the government has not issued any travel warning to Saudi Arabia.

It had, however, issued travel advice for all Indonesians who wished to travel to South Korea due to the ongoing spread of MERS in the country.

The minister said the government would first closely watch the development of the MERS outbreak before elevating its alert status to a '€œtravel warning'€ against all travel to the outbreak-affected country.

Earlier, the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, called on Indonesian tourists vacationing in the country to stay alert regarding the spread of MERS and adhere to several medical suggestions issued by health authorities in the country.