Hajj 2024: Fewer Heatstroke Cases, But Over 1,000 Deaths Still Mourned

Saudi Arabia's Hajj 2024: A 90% Reduction in Heatstroke Cases Amidst 1,000+ Deaths. The 2024 Hajj pilgrimage saw a remarkable 90% decrease in heatstroke cases, according to Abdullah Assiri, Deputy Minister of Health for Saudi Arabia. This success is attributed to new preventative measures implemented by the Saudi Arabian government. However, the extreme heat still claimed the lives of over 1,000 pilgrims. Assiri stated, "Our emergency teams and heatstroke units saw an almost 90% reduction in the influx of patients suffering from heat-related conditions. We did not detect any significant increase in outlier numbers when it comes to hospitalizations and intensive care units." The video shows footage of medical personnel providing aid to pilgrims suffering from the heat, emphasizing the scale of the challenge and the ongoing need for preventative measures, despite the significant progress made.