PPIH Medan: Hajj pilgrim infected with chickenpox postpones trip to Mecca

MEDAN (ANTARA) - The Medan Embarkation Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) stated that one Hajj pilgrim from North Sumatra infected with chickenpox has been forced to postpone departure to Mecca until next year’s Hajj season. ‘Her departure has been postponed until next year due to the highly contagious nature of chickenpox,’ said Zulkifli Sitorus, Chairman of the Medan PPIH, at the Medan Hajj Accommodation on Monday. The committee explained that the Hajj pilgrim, identified as Rahmaini Daulay with manifest number 176, hails from Labuhanbatu Regency in North Sumatra. Rahmaini was part of Embarkation Medan’s Flight Group 17, which is the final group scheduled to depart from Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang for Mecca. ‘Chickenpox can spread on an aircraft, so Rahmaini Daulay has had to postpone her departure, and she has accepted this,’ Zulkifli said. He also stated that the Hajj pilgrim from Labuhanbatu Regency, North Sumatra, has now resumed her activities in Jakarta. ‘She returned home a day after the scheduled departure. When sick, she rests, and has since returned to Jakarta. She registered for Hajj in North Sumatra,’ Zulkifli added. Thirteen Hajj pilgrims from North Sumatra have failed to depart for Mecca due to illness this season, resulting in six vacant seats across several flight groups. ‘With this latest postponement, the total number of Hajj pilgrims from North Sumatra unable to depart due to illness stands at 13,’ Zulkifli added, who also serves as Head of the North Sumatra Regional Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.