Haj pilgrims warned of flu attack

By Syed Rashid Husain

RIYADH, Dec 8: People intending to perform Haj this year have been cautioned against a flu pandemic. They have been advised to take an additional flu shot, since Haj is falling in winter.

“People planning to make the Haj pilgrimage should get flu shots beforehand to reduce the risk of a flu pandemic,” said doctors in the recent issue of British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Respiratory problems are already common during the Haj congregation.

Aziz Sheikh, an epidemiologist at the University of Edinburgh, has issued a warning that such a gathering makes a possibility of a global flu pandemic much more likely.

Mr Shaikh said that overcrowding was common during Haj and epidemiologists think at least one in three pilgrims would develop respiratory symptoms during the stay.

“That ratio increases when pilgrims come from economically developing nations” he said.

Such a large gathering represents a major public health risk, according to the editorial in the BMJ, particularly at a time when the risk of a pandemic is thought to be high.

"From a public health perspective, such a gathering makes the possible rampant spread of the influenza virus and a global pandemic, which many experts believe is overdue, a potentially devastating prospect that has been inadequately prepared for,” wrote Prof Aziz Sheikh and his colleagues.

The authors said the crush of people meant it was “not unusual for 50-100 people to share a tent overnight” in desert camps, a degree of overcrowding that “greatly increases the spread of respiratory infections”.

They said the World Health Organisation “must work with the Saudi authorities to minimise the risk of the influenza virus spreading among pilgrims (and the rest of us)”.

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This is definitely SCARY. 

This is a very serious situation. I plan to have my preps finished by the end of February. Of all the articles I have read this one is the most scary


    

Annie wrote: Linda-ann wrote: This is a very serious situation. I plan to have my preps finished by the end of February. Of all the articles I have read this one is the most scary   LOL, my exact words for February 2006! I did complete the three months at that time and now I have a full nine months, closing in on one copmlete year's supply. Fortunately we have a well plus a lake across the road. Good luck Linda-ann

After reading at least a thousand articles on the virus and planning and prepping . This article really puts together all the risk factors . Crowded conditions , lack of sanitation , limited finacial resourses .
the three elements you want the least stired together to create a pandemic. Then bring it back home. prep on /....Finish by the end of FEbruary .     

Hello Birdman,

Every holiday I become uneasy with everyone getting together in large groups. Be it terroism or bird flu, it is a state of life that we all now live in. Really makes you wish for the old days back again. That will never be. So it is natural to be conserned and worry about what is going to happen next. Everyone does have a life , and we all try to live them. Turn on your computor and all you seem to see is the fish in the ocean will be gone by 2040 or that the ice caps will be gone by then or that the sea levels are going up. Take your pick our lives have changed forever and will never be the same. So we all keep reading and learning and waiting. All we can do is be prepared for what ever comes next. And hope to god we keep our heads about us.   

excerpt    "More and more people are coming down with high fever and flu."

I guess there IS flu at the Hajj this year?


http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=8112&size=A#

SAUDI ARABIA
Hajj: millions of pilgrims commemorate Muhammad’s last sermon

Today the ritual journey from Mina (Makkah) to Mount Arafat takes place. Cold weather is not dampening pilgrims’ spirit. Security measures are tighter than ever to avoid past stampedes.

Makkah (AsiaNews/Agencies) – It is cold and the wind is blowing on the plain at the foot of Mount Arafat where, 14 centuries ago, the prophet Muhammad delivered his last sermon. Today some two to three million pilgrims will be making the ritual journey from Mina valley (Makkah) till here.

The ritual, known as the standing at Arafat or waqoof, is considered the most important part of Hajj, the pilgrimage every Muslim should make at least once in his or her life.

The pilgrims will spend the night in Muzdalifa to collect pebbles for the symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamrat in Mina in three days time.

The weather is bad and most pilgrims are spending day and night outside, in field tents or walking. Many do not have the right clothing for the current weather conditions, which were much better in previous years.
More and more people are coming down with high fever and flu.

“This is unbearable. But then this is what Hajj is all about. We have to sacrifice. Hajj is no picnic as some people think. It is an arduous journey,” said Abdullah Al-Qahtani from the Kingdom’s Northern Province.

In previous years up to two million pilgrims from 170 countries took part in the pilgrimage. This year, many more are expected.

The number of foreign pilgrims participating in this year’s Hajj has reached a record 1,654,407, according to Interior Minister Prince Naif.

Saudi authorities grant a permit for every 1,000 believers in any one state, but many pilgrims come anyway without official papers.

“I’m here to answer the call of Allah and pray for peace and tranquillity in my motherland,” said Iranian pilgrim Haider Ali Najafi.

“Words can’t describe how I feel,” said Ismail Attiyeh, 45, from Syria, choking with emotion. “To see all these people from around the world responding to the call and speaking in one voice to our creator gives me unprecedented feelings.”

Despite thousands of police officers, the huge throngs of the faithful have caused problems in Mina, especially for pilgrims camping without permit or trying to pray near the al-Khaif Mosque which according to tradition holds a Muhammad relic.

Overcrowding has caused serious incidents in the past. At least 364 people were were killed in a stampede in Mina in the last Hajj, 251 the previous one, always at the entrance of the narrow Jamrat bridge from where pilgrims throw pebbles at three pillars that represent the power of evil.

In order to avoid the problem, Saudi Arabia allocated US$ 1.1 billion to expand the Jamrat Bridge into a multi-storey structure. The first phase, completed in time for this Hajj, allows up to 250,000 pilgrims to move across the bridge each hour.

A religious edict was also issued this month allowing pilgrims to begin the stoning ritual in the morning rather than the afternoon as per tradition.

But pilgrims are not worried about the risks that crowding bring. “I have no fear, no concern and no anxiety,” said Irfan Habib, who lost his uncle in last year’s Mina stampede. “It is part of our faith and that’s why we are here. If I die here Allah will reward me with paradise.”

Some HIV patients are among the pilgrims, their trip paid by anonymous donors. With a doctor as medical supervisor, they have come, happy, doing what none dared to hope they could do. (PB)

Last Updated: 12/29/2006 13:26

found on Google...

http://images.google.com/images?q=hadj&ndsp=20&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&start=300&sa=N

 

 

 

HADJ...

 

A rather large group of pilgrims for sure...

 

http://www.fanlogradio1journaal.nl/images/hadj_pro2.jpg

 

 

 

 

http://07841.06jn.thinkquest.nl/islam/11.jpg

deleted ( by Ross )

What the hell is that? What an ass! You should be ASHAMED OF YOURSELF......

.

When do the Haj pilgrims complete their journey and the final pilgrim leaves for home?

 

What I’m thinking, seven more days from when the Haj Pilgrimage began would complete the incubation time of an unsuspected contagious bird flu victim to become ill, then the next day perhaps a few more ill victims of H5N1, then etc…. I’m also concerned about the 70,000 Egyptian pilgrims with 22 that have already been identified as dead. I really question the “heart-attacks” and “other” dieses they died from, especially coming from an active H5N1 location. I wonder if any were related to the three identified dead H5Ni Egyptians? How many others have already died and from what countries?

Cruiser wrote: With over 2,000,000 people expected to attend this event 200 deaths leat alone 22 would not be unusual.  Most go to be close with their God and surely many already in advanced stages of illness go to seek salvation.

justducky: I have been doing a search and finding some things you have probably been reading. I dismissed all the far out radical sites that just want to to stir up trouble (of course) but there are still a lot of reliable sources that have a lot to say on this subject.  To say the least, I am mildly agitated, and will continue my research on this subject. I still understand that not all Muslims feel this way, but they are severely oppressed and in danger of their lives if they say anything contradictory. I would still like to read the scriptures for myself. How can a muslim escape the tyranny of a forced religion, particularly if their Quaran calls for their death? Not that all are forced. Will read more on this. Thank you for goading me into this research. I think.

   Ugh..I must say this does give me pause. I would imagine that the return of the pilgrim's to their homes...which I believe is in the next day or so... the situation will need to be watched pretty closely by health organizations...AND those of us on this list...:)

Let's all watch very closely. I am going to try and get a bit more savy in peeking in on news abroad. Gettin' nervous. Think I might need to make a run to the store tomorrow...I dipped into my preps this past week or so...need to restock..:) Sincerely, JD

So JustDucky ,

    Do you want to make the situation better or make it worse.  Becaue
to use language like  "Love to put a bullet in their heads " can only make it worse.

Like you I am not a big fan of the Hot head Islamic movement but
its like Vietnam - a war for the hearts and minds of the people .

More brains and less muscle mate  ( join the team or lose the war ).

   .

Just Ducky - I agree , but the plot is to seperate the Radicals from the rest.
Weaken them by depriving them of the  support  of the rest of their
communities.

JustDucky: The "rest" are the very ones I care about. The ones I don't want dead. The ones I've been talking about. They are muslims too.

Pilgrims are returning...

Weeping, shouting mark return of W. Jawa hajj pilgrims