Health officials and governmental bodies fear a virus outbreak in the region and so has the Mecca work downsized the number of the visits to the Hajj Pilgrimage.

According to the latest reports coming in from the officials, due to ongoing fears of an outbreak of the deadly MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) virus in Saudi Arabia, the officials have decided to cut down the number of the pilgrims visiting the constructions in the holy city of Mecca.

It is the most religious time for the millions of Muslims but the experts are left with no other decision than cutting down the numbers of pilgrims who are being given the permission to perform this year's Hajj.

Islam has two holy sites i. e. Mecca and Medina. But this year's annual pilgrimage is accompanied by risks of the spread of MERS. Fearing that the virus could spread around the globe, the cuts have been decided.

The authorities have reduced the permissions to almost half of the number of pilgrims who were coming from within Saudi Arabia whereas a 20 percent cut has been made for those coming from abroad.

"This is an exceptional and temporary decision," Hajj Minister Mr. Bandar Hajjar announced last month.