In response to the threat posed by the swine flu virus the Ministry of Health has advised people with chronic diseases, pregnant women, children under the age of 12 and persons over 65 to postpone their plans for Umrah. In an awareness campaign leaflet entitled “Prevention is your Safety”, the ministry cited chronic diseases as heart, kidney and liver diseases, diabetes, immune deficiency due to medical treatment, chronic neurological diseases, obesity, metabolic illnesses and sickle cell anemia, and chronic lung diseases including asthma. Further information is available at the toll-free number 8002494444 and on the ministry's website.
