Muslim pilgrims swine flu alert

LORD Ahmed of Rotherham is urging Muslims preparing to travel on a major pilgrimage to get a swine flu jab.

And he has called on health chiefs to make sure pilgrims are properly vaccinated before they set out.

Although this year Lord Ahmed will not be joining the 25,000 British Muslims, who will begin their journey in the next few weeks on the annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, he has still had the jab.

The Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK is concerned about the wellbeing of the pilgrims as they will be mixing closely with millions of other pilgrims from all over the world during the annual gathering of Muslims in the holy city of Mecca.

Lord Ahmed urged the Department of Health, the regional health authorities and the Rotherham Primary Care Trust to protect the prospective Hajj travellers from swine flu and other infectious diseases by ensuring that they were vaccinated before setting off.

Conern has been heightened after 20 deaths caused by meningitis among British Hajj returnees in the recent past. 

Lord Ahmed said: “If pilgrims travel unprotected then infected returnees can cause further spread of swine flu amongst their families and the community in the UK, which would then put great demands on hospitals and other healthcare resources. 

“Therefore it is vital that authorities must take this swine flu threat seriously and they should take all precautionary measures recommended by the government of Saudi Arabia and the World Health Organisation.

"The Government of Saudi Arabia has now required all countries to conduct necessary educational programs to enhance Hajj-related health and safety awareness of their pilgrims before they arrive in the kingdom. 

“ABH has already taken this task and is working hard to raise awareness of pre-travel health and safety issues amongst prospective British Hajj and Umrah pilgrims through high profile publicity campaigns via press and electronic media and organising conference, seminars and educational training programs, producing and distributing relevant informative literature.