Fears of a major outbreak of swine flu during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca have not materialized, according to Saudi Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah.

VOA: standard.2009.11.29

But now, as she landed in Saudi Arabia for the Muslim pilgrimage Hajj, the time seemed to have flown by.

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However it said it was working closely with Saudi authorities in advance of the forthcoming Hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.

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As the centre of Muslim pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia will always be a place for extremists from across the world to meet and plot, sometimes carrying secret messages.

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