Chinese Muslims head to Makkah for Hajj amid unproven flu fears
More than 300 Chinese Muslims departed Friday on a pilgrimage to Mecca, state media reported, the first group to leave on the hajj to Saudi Arabia this year amid concerns about the spread of swine flu.
The 332 pilgrims left the northwestern province of Gansu on a chartered flight, the first of 12,700 Chinese Muslims due to make the pilgrimage, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Most of the pilgrims have been given vaccinations against A(H1N1) influenza amid a heightened global alert on the spread of the virus, Chang Qingliang, an official at the Islamic Association of China, was quoted as saying.
Saudi Arabia says it is prepared to welcome some three million people to Mecca for the hajj, and has asked pilgrims to be vaccinated against ordinary and A(H1N1) flu.
via International News | Chinese Muslims head to Mecca amid flu fears.
