15:05, 09 May 2009 | GMT +5
Thousands of Egyptians abandon Umrah plans amid flu fears
CAIRO. May 9. KAZINFORM Thousands of Muslims in Egypt have cancelled their plans to conduct a pilgrimage to the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina this year due to the threat of A/N1H1 virus, Egyptian newspaper Al-Masri al-Yaum said on Saturday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

Over 3 million Muslims, including dozens of thousands of Egyptians, travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the Umrah or the "minor pilgrimage" every year. However, about 60% of Egyptian pilgrims decided against performing this ritual, following the warning from the Egyptian Health Ministry, the paper said.
Egypt so far has not been affected by the so-called "swine flu," but the authorities are taking emergency steps to prevent the possible spread of the deadly virus in the country; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.
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