A dramatically scaled-back version of the hajj pilgrimage began in Saudi Arabia yesterday, and though cases in Middle Eastern countries are starting to stabilize, the reopening of international borders poses a threat of increased spread, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) regional office said today.The global total climbed to 16,829,840 cases, and 662,297 people have died from their infections, according to the Johns Hopkins online dashboard.Fragile progress in Middle East outbreaksIn the middle of June, Saudi Arabia announced a ban on hajj travelers from outside the country, the first such action in modern times.