From Fazle Rashid

NEW YORK, Oct 30: This should be very important for the Hajjis. This warning will certainly not prevent them from travelling to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) but will at least help them to take enough precautionary measures to shield against swine flu.

Dr. Ziad Memish, deputy minister of preventive medicine of Saudi Arabia, fearing outbreak of swine flu in pandemic form during the Hajj, has warned the intending pilgrims particularly the pregnant women and elderly men and women not to travel to Saudi Arabia for the hajj. Already thousands of pilgrims from 160 countries have started to arrive.

An estimated 2.5 million pilgrims from 160 nations are expected to perform Hajj this year. This year some will bring swine flu, the New York Times (NYT) in a front page news said today. The hajj is a central ritual of Islam and our country tries to make it easy for everyone to come, the NYT quoted Dr. Ziad as saying. "We have said we wont turn away anyone who arrives at our border. But we are recommending to other countries whom they should allow to go for the hajj. This is a very delicate issue."

The Kingdom is making all possible efforts at preventing the outbreak of the disease. The problem is the shortage of the vaccine. The Saudi health ministry officials are seeking help for prevention from the WHO and many US medical laboratory. The pilgrims have been advised to wash their hands frequently and take their own surgical masks and hand sanitizers when they go Saudi Arabia.

The Saudis have opened 76 health facilities and intensive care units have been expanded. Medical care for the pilgrims will be free. Saudi Arabia's reputation will be severely tested during the hajj this year. Saudi Arabia is well prepared to face the outbreak of the flu but all important vaccines are in short supply. It will be impossible to stop the flu from arriving but Saudis have already decided to segregate any suspected case of swine flu carrier, NYT quoted a Saudi Official as saying.

Saudis as stated have already issued warnings that pregnant women, anyone above 65 and below 12 and people with diabetes, chronic lung, heart, liver or nerve disease should not perform hajj this year.

There will be 12,700 pilgrims from China and 15,000 from the United States. Both the countries will ensure that they are given swine flu shot before they leave.