Saudi Arabia threatens to ban Nigerians from attending hajj this year over Lassa Fever fears

SAUDI Arabian authorities are threatening to block Nigerian pilgrims from attending this year’s hajj exercise because of reports of a Lassa Fever outbreak in Nigeria which they fear could spread if they visit the holy land.

Nigeria has one of the largest contingents in the annual religious exercise with about 95,000 pilgrims visiting Mecca and medina annually. Over recent weeks, an outbreak of Lassa fever has been reported in a number of states, which has alarmed the Saudi authorities according to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (Nahcon).

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 1,081 suspected cases and 90 deaths were reported from 18 states of Nigeria between January 1 and February 25 this year. They included Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, the Federal Capital Territory, Gombe, Imo, Kogi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, Rivers, and Taraba state.

During the period, 317 cases have been classified as confirmed and eight as probable, including 72 deaths. WHO, said, however, that there is a steady decline in Lassa Fever cases and deaths from 70 as of February 18 to five by April 15.

A WHO spokesman said: "From the beginning of the outbreak in January 1, 2018 to the week ending February 18, 2018, the number of weekly reported Lassa Fever cases increased from 10 to 70. From late-February to early March, however, there has been a downward trend in the weekly reported number of Lassa Fever cases with less than 20 cases reported each week in March and only five new cases reported in the week ending April 15, 2018.”

Nahcon spokesman Mousa Ubandawaki, who confirmed the moves by Saudi Arabia, said that Nigerian authorities are not taking the threat lightly. It is unclear what the plan of the Nigerian authorities is as of now.