Pilgrims who travel to Saudi Arabia for the annual Muslim Hajj celebrations are facing the heightened risk of heat exhaustion and respiratory diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Over 2 million pilgrims are expected to participate in this year’s hajj that is underway in the holy city of Mecca.

The UN health agency has been working with the Saudi Ministry of Health to put in place measures to prevent and rapidly address any health issues including the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus known as MERS-CoV.

Reem Abaza has been speaking to WHO’s Rana Sidani who is currently in Saudi Arabia.

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