International experts have recommended that children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with chronic diseases stay away from the annual Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia to prevent catching swine flu. The recommendations come at the end of a four-day meeting in Jeddah that examined Saudi measures to prevent the spread of swine flu during the Haj in December. The workshop included experts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Alrabaia'ah said at a press conference here Tuesday that all the 81 swine flu victims identified until Monday have recovered and that the impact of the disease was moderate and not a source of concern. The swine flu vaccine would be available before the Haj season, he said, urging Umrah pilgrims, those living in the holy places and those serving pilgrims to take the seasonal flu vaccine. Arriving foreigners should take the vaccine at least two weeks before traveling to the holy sites, he said. Instructions have been sent out to establish isolation centers in the holy sites for Umrah pilgrims suffering from flu.
