Pilgrims Ready for Hajj, Unfazed By Swine Flu

IslamOnline.net & News Agencies
MAKKAH – While the swine flu panic is spreading across the world, the nearly three million Muslim pilgrims packing the holy city of Makkah for the spiritual journey of hajj are unfazed by the virus.

"People are not talking about the H1N1 flu,” Palestinian pilgrim Ibrahim Qanan told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Saturday, November 21.

“They reserve their time for their devotions.”

Around three million pilgrims from over 160 countries are expected to perform hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, this year.

Preparing for the world's largest gathering, Saudi authorities are on alert to prevent outbreak of the virus during hajj.

Stockpiles of generic Tamiflu vaccine have been brought to vaccinate the pilgrims.

Thermal cameras have also been installed at air and sea terminals in Jeddah where most pilgrims arrive.

Thousands of 15,000 health workers are deployed, and hospitals have hundreds of extra beds to handle any rise in illness.

Saudi authorities have also deployed mobile units which can instantly send to a central monitoring centre the locations of infections, to monitor outbreaks.

In Medina, Makkah and Jeddah, Saudi authorities have also placed a number of special mach-virus in suspected cases.

Fliers and posters are hung in the streets and facades of hotels warning the pilgrims about the virus.

"The situation is under control and, God willing, it is very reassuring," said health ministry spokesman Dr Khaled Marghlani.

So far, despite a number of infections, no pilgrim has died from the H1N1 virus.

The swine flu, a mixture of various swine, bird and human viruses, first emerged in Mexico in April.

The virus has so far killed around 6,750 people in 191 countries.

Devotion

The pilgrims, however, are unfazed by the swine flu panic, dedicating their time to their devotion.

"People are not paying too much attention to all these posters," said Ashraf Abu Nimr, a 26-year-old Algerian from France.

"Personally, I'm not worried as I received a swine flu vaccination before leaving home.”

Umm Said, a Mauritanian pilgrim, is also unworried.

"The pilgrims take care of themselves,” she said.

“We don't need all these facilities.

"More than a million of us pray at the same time in the heart of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, and there is no sign of the disease."

Every able-bodied adult Muslim -- who can financially afford the trip -- must perform hajj once in their lifetime.

Hajj will climax on Thursday, November 26, when the faithful descend the Mount `Arafat.