Four people taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage have died after contracting swine flu but British authorities have announced that this should not be a concern for those travelling from the U.K. Dr. Syed Moinuddin who is chief medical advisor to the British Hajj delegation says that Saudi Arabia has put into place all the measures necessary to make sure that pilgrims are kept safe. He said that everyone going on this years Hajj had been told that they would have to be vaccinated against the H1N1 virus in order to do so. He also said that all those passing through Jeddah airport would be screened for signs of infection.

It is estimated that around 25,000 pilgrims will travel to Mecca for the Hajj from Britain. The Saudi authorities have said that anyone applying for a visa to the country has to show proof of having been vaccinated against swine flu. The authorities have said that none of the four dead victims of the disease had been vaccinated.

Members of the British Muslim community say that the fear of contracting swine flu will not put them off travelling to Mecca. One Muslim student, Maryam Nadeen said that the Hajj was all in a good cause and that if you are going to die then there is no better place to do so than in Mecca. A member of the All Pakistan Women’s Association, Sherry Khalili pointed out that all Muslims have to visit Mecca at least once in their life and said that those who died whilst doing so were blessed.