MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The Saudi health minister says five people have died from the H1N1 flu virus during the annual hajj.
Abdullah al-Rabeeah said Sunday authorities recorded 73 cases of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, during the pilgrimage. He said only 10 percent of the some 3 million pilgrims were vaccinated against the virus.
Saudi officials and international health experts have worked to limit any outbreak during the hajj. They offered free vaccines and placed hand sanitizer dispensers at strategic sites.
The annual Islamic pilgrimage draws 3 million visitors each year, making it the largest yearly gathering of people in the world and an ideal incubator for the H1N1 flu virus.
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