Saudi pilgrims drop by 40 per cent over swine flu fears

Riyadh - The number of pilgrims registering with Hajj pilgrimage companies in Saudi Arabia has dropped by 40 per cent compared to last year due to a fear of H1N1 virus and higher prices, media reports said Monday. Many citizens and expatriates have canceled their Hajj this year due to health warnings against the spread of swine flu, as well as the higher prices offered by Hajj companies, the Saudi daily Arab News reported.

Prices sometimes reach 10,000 Saudi Riyals (about 2,673 US dollars) per pilgrim, the paper added.

Saleh al-Zufairi, an owner of a Dammam-based company, said that only 20 people registered with his company this year, down from 200 last year.

Last Saturday, Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah launched the first stage of a vaccination campaign in Riyadh targeting local pilgrims, health officials and employees working in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina during the pilgrimage.

Several Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, have begun vaccinating pilgrims ahead of their voyage to Mecca.

Official figures show that nine pilgrims have so far this year been diagnosed with the H1N1 influenza.

The peak 2009 hajj season will conclude towards the end of the month, with some 2.5 million Muslims expected to travel to Mecca during what is considered the first hajj season affected by a flu pandemic since air travel became the main means of reaching the holy city.

In October, the Tunisian government said it will not allow its citizens to perform the Hajj because of fears of the virus.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/294876,saudi-pilgrims-drop-by-40-per-cent-over-swine-flu-fears.html.