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Minister Al-Rabeeah said only two cases of swine flu have been reported so far among the half a million pilgrims who have already arrived in the country. (Google) |
CAIRO — Saudi Arabia will not bar anyone even those considered a high risk for swine flu from performing hajj this year, the Saudi English-speaking Arab News daily reported on Sunday, November 8.
"Saudi Arabia does not ban anyone because the hajj is a religious event," Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said.
Every able-bodied adult Muslim -- who can financially afford the trip -- must perform hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, once in their lifetime.
Around three million pilgrims from over 160 countries are expected to perform hajj this year.
Al-Rabeeah said they have advised vulnerable people, children, elderly and pregnant women, to stay away this year.
They also urged all concerned countries to vaccinate their pilgrims before they leave for the holy lands.
"Saudi Arabia has put in place strong recommendations that we hope individual countries will abide by."
Several countries, including China and Egypt, have decided to vaccinating citizens making the annual spiritual journey.
Saudi Arabia has made extensive preparations to contain swine flu during the hajj.
This includes installing thermal-screening equipment at entry points to detect passengers with fevers, rapid reporting of illnesses from a network of hospitals and clinics for quarantining those who catch the disease.
Minister Al-Rabeeah asserted that only two cases of swine flu have been reported so far among the half a million pilgrims who have already arrived in the country.
The swine flu (H1N1), a mixture of various swine, bird and human viruses, first emerged in Mexico in April.
The virus has so far killed thousands of people in 191 countries.
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Saudi Arabia began vaccinating its own population against swine flu on Saturday, with priority given to state employees working on hajj.
"People need not have any qualms about the effects of the vaccination," Minister Al-Rabeeah said.
"It does not have any serious side effects on adults and children."
The health minister launched the campaign by taking the vaccine shots himself along with his daughter.
"I have shown you a good example by vaccinating my own dear child."
Authorities said resident who plan to perform hajj, health workers and other officials involved in hajj arrangements the vaccination priority list.
Health authorities said earlier this month the country had received the first batch of 11 million vaccine doses ordered.
So far, over 7,000 cases of swine flu have been reported in Saudi Arabia with 62 deaths among them.
According to the Ministry of Health, over 95 percent of the flu victims have fully recovered.
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