Saudi urges unfit Muslims to postpone Hajj amid flu pandemic concerns

[Naveed Yaseen]

JEDDAH (July 01 2009): Saudi Arabia on Tuesday called on elderly, ill and other unfit Muslims to postpone Hajj as the kingdom tries to prevent a large scale spread of the H1N1 flu. "Experts recommend that elderly, people with chronic illnesses, children, and pregnant women postpone their plans for Hajj for their own safety," Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah told reporters in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah.

He urged pilgrims to take seasonal influenza vaccines as well as the new H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available later this year, before heading to Saudi Arabia. To cater for the visiting pilgrims, the kingdom will up its stock of the main antiviral flu drug Tamiflu by 20 percent, said health ministry spokesman Khaled Mirghalani, which is double the World Health Organisation's recommendation for other countries.

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