In an Article on NPR which can be found in the title link, Saudi Arabian health officials are afraid that the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca may have an unexpected visitor, Swine Flu. However, no one can/ will cancel this sacred event because it has been a solid tradition in the Muslim World for 1,430 years. What the doctors are admonishing is for people to get the H1N1 vaccine at least two weeks before the Mecca begins and for pregnant women and young children to stay clear of the Mecca this year because they are most likely at risk for catching the disease.
I am not surprised that Swine Flu was brought up as a viable threat to this religiously charged and historic event because people will be at an extremely close proximity to each other. As seen in my picture, all these people are practically breathing down each others necks. This is a cause for concern because Swine, like any other flu-like sickness, spreads through bodily interactions and exchanges from things such as coughing and sneezing.
I'm hoping that Swine Flu will not get in the way of the Mecca because it is part of the Five Pillars of Islam that every true Muslim must participate in at least once in their lifetime.
