WHO hails Saudi Arabia's health measures after safe Hajj season

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have hailed the 2026 Hajj as a public health success after the annual pilgrimage concluded without any confirmed or suspected cases of epidemic disease among millions of worshippers.

The announcement came amid international concerns over outbreaks of diseases including Ebola and Hantavirus in parts of the world, prompting Saudi authorities to implement extensive surveillance, screening and emergency preparedness measures throughout the pilgrimage season.

"Health security for the Hajj is global health security," Saudi Health Minister Fahad bin Abdulrahman AlJalajel said.

He said protecting millions of pilgrims through prevention, preparedness, response measures and international cooperation not only safeguarded the pilgrimage but also strengthened global public health security.

The ministry said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Saudi Arabia on a safe Hajj season and praised the work of the Kingdom's healthcare professionals.

According to the ministry, Dr Tedros's remarks reflected international confidence in Saudi Arabia's ability to manage one of the world's largest annual gatherings.

Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, also praised the Kingdom's health operation, highlighting the use of robotics, drones and health-monitoring systems throughout the pilgrimage.

WHO teams monitored disease risks during the Hajj season, she said, and the outcome demonstrated the ability of the system to manage the health challenges associated with a major international gathering.

The ministry said the disease-free outcome was the result of one of the largest healthcare operations ever conducted during the Hajj.

More than 52,000 health workers and 7,700 paramedics were deployed during the pilgrimage, supported by over 20,000 hospital beds, including 3,800 dedicated to the holy sites.

Health authorities said more than 2.46 million medical services were delivered during the season, while over one million calls were handled through the ministry's "937" health hotline.

Saudi officials said preparations took place against a complex global health backdrop.

The Saudi Public Health Authority, Weqaya, monitored international outbreaks, including Ebola cases reported in several countries and Hantavirus infections elsewhere, while coordinating with WHO and international health partners.

Authorities strengthened health requirements for pilgrims before arrival and expanded surveillance systems at ports of entry and throughout the holy sites.

The ministry said field epidemiology teams, rapid-response units and advanced laboratory networks remained on standby throughout the pilgrimage, while multilingual public awareness campaigns focused on heat stress and disease prevention.

"No case of either disease, or any other epidemic illness, was found among pilgrims," the ministry said.

Saudi officials said the outcome reinforced the Kingdom's growing role in the field of mass gathering medicine and demonstrated its commitment to protecting pilgrims and supporting global public health.

The ministry thanked healthcare workers, security personnel and government agencies involved in the operation, saying their combined efforts enabled millions of pilgrims to complete the Hajj safely.