Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 22
By Ilkin Izzet - Trend:
The medical examination of people returning from the hajj, the annual pilgrimage of Muslims to the city of Mecca, will not reveal the Ebola virus at this stage, Anar Gadirli, the head of the press service of Azerbaijani Health Ministry told Trend Oct. 22.
He said the incubation period for Ebola virus is 21 days, so no checks of those returning from the hajj will give results until symptoms appear.
"The Ebola virus evolves latently," Gadirli said. "The examination of blood doesn't reveal the virus during this period."
He said that otherwise it would have been easy to contain and prevent Ebola's spread.
"Therefore, only after 21 days, the medical tests can show something," Gadirli added.
He said if the pilgrims feel some discomfort, they need to see doctors at medical centers.
"Given the time of the return of our pilgrims, any symptoms can appear only in late October or early November," Gadirli stressed.
"The pilgrims need to be extremely careful during these days and have to see local doctors in case of any ailment. In the event of any serious problem, the patients may be taken to special clinics," Gadirli said.
The head of the press service of the Caucasian Muslims Office (CMO), Rahima Dadashova said that the CMO is not responsible for the pilgrims' health after returning from the hajj.
Dadashova said the pilgrims should take into account all the risks and undergo examination at appropriate medical facilities.
Edited by S.I.