This year’s hajj pilgrimage has been overshadowed by fears over the H1N1 swine flu virus, and in fact four pilgrims have already died as a result of this. Up to three million Muslims from around the world take part in the hajj pilgrimage every year, and as with any gathering of this size, it is fraught with danger.

Before the age of international travel, the greatest dangers that were faced by hajj pilgrims was the perilous journey to and from Mecca, with the pilgrims caravan often being beset by bandits or wild animals. This is not to mention the threat of dying from thirst or starvation. However now that international travel has made this journey simple, the dangers come from the vast numbers of pilgrims who perform hajj each year as such large gatherings bring with it the threat of stampedes and disease. In 1990, 1,400 pilgrims were killed during a stampede in a pedestrian tunnel linking Mecca with Mount Arafat. While in 1991, Saudi Arabia banned pilgrims from Uganda from attending hajj due to fears of the deadly Ebola virus.

However, the Saudi Arabian authorities have spent billions of dollars improving the hajj infrastructure. Thousands of fire-proof tents have been erected at Mina where pilgrims camp out for one night during the hajj, and police helicopters now fly over the crowds to identify any potential bottlenecks. This year an additional 15,000 health workers have been deployed in the region to deal with any swine flu outbreak.   »»» Health Guidance for the Hajj Season Asharq Alawsat Newspaper (English)

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