T

wo returning haj pilgrims are suspected to have contracted Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus (MERS CoV).

One woman from Bengkulu identified only as R, 62, died on Sunday. Another woman identified as A, 65, from Agam regency, is in the intensive care unit at the Dr. M. Djamil General Hospital in Padang, West Sumatra

Rusilawati, a pulmonologist at the hospital, said the two patients were admitted Sunday afternoon.

“We suspect they contracted MERS but are waiting for the virology report. We sent throat swabs to the virology lab at the national laboratory in Jakarta,” she said on Monday.

Rusilawati added that R was admitted with acute respiratory infection and shortness of breath, while patient A was under observation and stable.

However, Aryanti, the head of Port Health Office in Padang, said no cases of suspected MERS CoV had been reported to port officials. R’s body was transported to Bengkulu with haj pilgrims from Bengkulu transiting at Minangkabau International Airport on Monday.

The MERS CoV virus emerged in 2012 and has become a concern for travelers worldwide. The government recently announced that no pilgrims had been infected this year. Pilgrims have started to return home after traveling to Saudi Arabia for the haj.