Elderly, pregnant, infirm, children urged to skip haj

THE elderly, the infirm, pregnant women and children should skip the haj and umrah (minor haj) this year amid the mounting number of Influenza A (H1N1) cases globally. This was among the recommendations of a workshop on precautionary health measures during the haj and umrah that took place in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah yesterday.

Arab News quoted Saudi Health Minister Dr Abdullah Al-Rabeeah as saying that participating World Health Organisation (WHO) experts were satisfied with precautionary measures taken by the country to keep the spread of the virus among pilgrims in check. He said the workshop recommended that haj and umrah pilgrims, local residents and service providers in the holy cities should be vaccinated against the H1N1 virus at least two weeks before leaving their home countries.

Saudi health authorities and haj delegations representing various countries have been asked to stock necessary quantities of medication for treatment and prevention of the virus causing the swine flu. Pilgrims have also been urged to take the new H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available later this year, before travelling to Saudi Arabia. Arab News said six new cases of swine flu had been reported in the kingdom, bringing the number to 81. Bernama