"Trekking virus" hits Saudi Arabia as man makes 22-day walk to Hajj
It seems the acute trekking virus (ATV) that plagued Nigerians after the 2015 general elections has moved elsewhere.
The 2015 Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, commences on September 21.
A Saudi man has decided to make the journey to the holy city on foot, a decision that clearly showed he might be ATV-positive.
The journey is expected to last 22 days.
It appears, however, Nasser Jarallah Al-Qahtani may have contracted the trekking virus two years before Nigerians succumbed to the harmless bug.
He successfully attempted the same feat two successive Hajj pilgrimages ago.
This year, Al-Qahtani drove from his home in Khamis Mushayet to Riyadh, and then began his trip on foot from the Al-Oud Cemetery on August 24.
He is expected to arrive in Makkah on Tuesday – that is 22 days after setting out from Riyadh, Arab News reports.
The man, reports say, is turning down assistance along the way. Many Saudis say they’re surprised the ATV-positive pilgrim does not want to be helped.
Al-Qahtani said he is trekking in honour of King Abdul Aziz, the late founder of the Kingdom.
Reports say he embarked on the previous trips in honour of his mother and the late Prince Naif respectively.
Well, some Nigerians trekked for President Muhammadu Buhari, his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan, and several state governors.
Beware! ATV is real!
