(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims are gathering in their holy city of Mecca, for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
This year authorities are taking extra security precautions because of the threat of ISIS militants - and the spread of the deadly ebola virus.
Gary Cox has the details.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
Two million Muslims will make the pilgrimage this year.
If just one is carrying Ebola, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Elias Ismail is a pilgrim from Malaysia.
He knows the risks and isn't taking any chances.
"I wear this mask because of, for my health and of course we heard of Ebola from African countries so that is why I am preventing. I am also afraid for this Ebola."
Pilgrims will be staying in close quarters at a sprawling tent city near Mecca.
Dr Hassan Bokhari is head of emergency department in Al Noor specialist hospital.
He says they're on high alert.
"Mainly we are concerned about Ebola because it's a very infectious disease, so we created a different pathway for patients and a completely isolated room for that situation."
Many devout Muslims will be coming from Africa, where Ebola is most prevalent.
Some will be disappointed to miss out.
Khalid Mirghalani from the Saudi Ministry of Health says they had no choice but to exclude pilgrims from some countries.
"We already stopped giving out visas to three countries, (which countries are they) the countries which have Ebola registered .... Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone."
Authorities are also working closely with the World Health Organisation and the Centre of Disease Control.
Director of Infectious Diseases Control Department at Al Nour hospital, Dr Manal Mansour, says Saudi authorities are taking every precaution.
"Up till now, till today as we saw at this, their website, the trusted website for Ministry of Health, we don't have any cases to be Ebola case in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
With so many people gathered in one place, there are also concerns Islamic State militants could strike.
But Imran Baig, a pilgram from America says he's not worried.
"They are cowards. They are basically just using Islam for their own benefit and to push their own agenda, but Insha'Allah we will be fine, we will be safe. if something is going to happen it is going to happen anywhere, it doesn't have to be here, it could be anywhere in the world."
The Kingdom's military spokesman Mansour al Turki says pilgrims can rest assured, his troops have beefed up border security.
"We have actually enforced our security readiness at all the borders of Saudi Arabia, the northern border, the southern border."
Hajj rituals are performed over five days, culminating with the Eid al Adha festival.
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