Just 26 cases of A(H1N1) influenza were reported in Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan which ended on September 20, a ministry statement carried by the state news agency SPA said.
Several million Saudis and foreigners had descended on Islam’s two holiest cities to perform the Umrah or minor pilgrimage.
Another two cases were reported in the northern and southern border regions, where many pilgrims pass on their way to Makkah from neighbouring countries, it said.
“The ministry of health continues to follow closely the disease among pilgrims and visitors from all areas through epidemiological surveillance and laboratory diagnosis of suspected cases,” it said.
Epidemiologists feared a massive outbreak of swine flu among pilgrims at the peak Umrah period during the fasting month.
As of September 7, when the most recent government data were released, 26 people had died of swine flu in Saudi Arabia.
But the danger was reduced by intensive surveillance preparation and warnings from Riyadh that children, the elderly and other high-risk persons should be prevented from undertaking umrah this year. Some countries such as Egypt and Oman placed their own restrictions on Umrah pilgrims to mitigate the threat.
Saudis and global health authorities are still concerned about the possibility of an outbreak during the Haj in late November.
