Egypt enforces ban on Hajj pilgrims

18 August 2009

On Monday 17th August Egypt  prevented dozens of pilgrims over the age of 65 or under 25 from travelling to Mecca as part of measures to prevent the spread of swine flu.

Arab health ministers agreed in July to restrict the number of people allowed to go on hajj and umrah after an Egyptian woman back from Saudi Arabia became the first swine fly death in the Middle East and Africa.

An airline official said that fifteen percent of passengers who arrived on Monday at Cairo airport to travel to Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage were prevented from leaving. The travel ban affected those over 65 and those under 25 because they are the most at risk of being contaminated by swine flu.

Pilgrims wanting to go on umrah or hajj must also show airport officials in Cairo medical certificates to prove they do not suffer from any chronic diseases, including diabetes.

Source: Agence France Presse

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