Health Ministry Tells Hajis “don’t hug”

With the first pilgrims leaving for the Haj pilgrimage in a couple of weeks, the Indian health ministry has issued a travel advisory instructing Hajis, not to hug and shake hands among other things, in order to contain the spread of the H1N1 Swine flu virus. The do’s and don’ts of Haj include:

• A flu vaccination is a must and it is compulsory for all pilgrims to have valid flu vaccination certificates. This is also a requirement of the Saudi Arabian authorities which have said that hajis are required to be vaccinated at least two weeks before leaving their country.
• Hajis are told to avoid hugging and shaking hands with pilgrims from other countries to ward off swine flu, unless there is a compulsory religious requirement for it.
• Stay away from crowded places as far as possible
• Don’t take medications without consultation with a doctor
• Wash hands frequently with soap
• Don’t spit in public
• Get enough rest and sleep

Around 1.6 lakh hajis are expected to travel from India for the Haj this year. Most agencies have welcomed the advisory, however some have criticised it for having come too late, since there is now not much time left for the hajis to depart.

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