Saudi Arabia said on Saturday four pilgrims had died of the H1N1 flu virus three days before the Muslim haj is due to start, al-Hayat newspaper said. According to the repot, the Health Ministry said the deaths were among pilgrims who came from outside Saudi Arabia.
Some 3 million Muslim pilgrims participate in the haj in the holy city of Mecca every year, including up to 2 million who travel from abroad. Haj rituals this year start on Wednesday.
