Egypt warns of post-hajj swine flu quarantine
Associated Press, Cairo | Wed, 05/20/2009 4:09 PM
Egypt's health minister is warning Egyptian who plan to attend the hajj in Saudi Arabia they may be quarantined upon their return, amid concerns of exposure to swine flu at an annual pilgrimage that draws millions.
In an interview Wednesday with the independent daily al-Masry al-Youm, Hatem al-Gabali said that in past years thousands of Egyptians had returned ill from the hajj.
While neither Saudi Arabia nor Egypt has any reported cases of swine flu, the concern is some of the roughly 3 million Muslims from around the world who attend the hajj could be infected.
Al-Gabali said the quarantine option was on the table, but that no decision had been taken.
The pilgrimage is required of all able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime.
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