Swine flu concerns cause Arab health leaders to rethink Mecca

Arab health ministers ban children and elderly from attending the annual gathering at Mecca, citing concerns over the H1N1 swine flu pandemic.

The H1N1 swine flu virus that has disrupted human activities across much of the world - from summer camps to hospital patient management to business continuity planning - has now affected one of the world's most anticipated annual cultural gatherings: the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. "Arab health ministers banned children, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses from attending the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia this year over fears the mass gathering could speed the spread of swine flu," the Associated Press reported on Thursday. There is no current intention to cancel the hajj, though the event attracts roughly 3 million people a year. The ban targets adults over 65 years old and children under 12 years old. The H1N1 swine flu virus has been particularly virulent among younger demographics, as they have not been exposed to similar strains that have appeared on occasion over the years. Worldwide deaths from the H1N1 bug among all age groups have doubled over the past three weeks to 700, according to World Health Organization figures. "There has been a great deal of debate in the Middle East about skipping the hajj altogether this year to avoid exacerbating the spread of the disease. The decision to enforce a travel ban seems to be an attempt to mitigate the risks without taking such a radical step," AP reported.