With the annual Hajj beginning in a few weeks, Saudi Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah announced approximately 500,000 pilgrims have already arrived in the country. With regard to swine flu fears, he advised it is the responsibility of individual countries to enforce flu recommendations and the Saudi kingdom will not ban anyone from the Hajj, even if considered high risk. So far, only 2 cases of H1N1have been reported.
The annual pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina is estimated to draw more than 3 million this year. Taking the Hajj is a moral obligation expected of every able-bodied Muslim at least once in their lifetime. This year's Hajj begins November 25.
The American Center for Disease Control and Prevention is working with the Saudi Health Ministry set up a command center in Mecca to monitor various diseases, including the flu. Concerns are that health care facilities be ready and able to handle the amount of potential flu sufferers, and the possibility that afflicted travelers may bring the flu back home to further infect more people, as happened in Mexico this past Spring.
Muslims arriving to take part in the pilgrimage will be checked for H1N1 symptoms and given sanitizing hand gel and face masks.
For more info:
The Hajj at a glance
50 Things to do at Hajj
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Comments
The H1N1 is no joke- it is world wide, and it is a tyrant!
It is good that they are thinking ahead and being proactive- I hope that it keeps the disease from running rampant there too.
Wow, that's a good point.
That's a lot of people crowded together. Good thing they are taking some precautions.
Great reporting Nance, thanks for this important information.
That's great that other countries are vaccinating for swine flu. Now when are we going to get enough of the vaccine here??? Thanks for reporting this.
What a dilemma. It is a great blessing and duty to attend the hajj, yet such crowded close quarters are a powerful way for viruses to spread. Hand gels and face masks are a good start, but this could turn out very badly for many people is this is any sort of an outbreak. A provocative and fascinating article.
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