Magharebia

The spread of the H1N1 influenza virus led Tunisian authorities on Tuesday (October 6th) to officially cancel the mid-November hajj to Mecca, local and international press reported.

"Sermons at this Friday's prayers and the local media will further clarify the reasons that led to our taking this decision," Tunisian Religious Affairs Minister Abu-Bakr al-Akhzouri said at a press conference. Reuters quoted the minister as saying that "a batch of H1N1 flu jabs would not arrive before mid-October, too late to ensure candidates for the pilgrimage are vaccinated".