Umrah companies have been told they must employ resident doctors at hotels of over 400 rooms as Health Affairs steps up measures to combat swine flu ahead of the pilgrimage season. The doctors are required to monitor the health of Umrah pilgrims staying at each location and immediately refer suspected cases of swine flu to Ministry of Health hospitals. Saad Al-Qurashi, Chairman of the Haj and Umrah Committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the move was part of preventive measures drawn up with the Health Affairs Department, and that the committee would hold a gathering in October to look further at the measures. Al-Qurashi said that prices at four and five-star hotels had dropped by up to 30 percent due to fears of swine flu, but added that other price-groups had seen an upturn.
