MAKKAH: Although there has been much hype about swine flu this year — something that has also led to a decline in the number of pilgrims coming to the Kingdom — many pilgrims refuse to take the disease seriously.

Unlike previous years, there is a widespread use of face masks among pilgrims in Makkah. In previous years it was only the police directing traffic who would wear masks. This year, however, pilgrims are donning masks to lessen the chances of catching the H1N1 virus.

People can be seen selling face masks for SR10 around the Grand Mosque. The price is, however, negotiable and can go down to as low as SR2 per mask. Many of the sellers can be heard saying, “Protect yourself from any flu for SR10.”

Entire families can be seen inside the Grand Mosque wearing masks while others who are not in Ihram can be seen covering their noses with their shumaghs (Saudi headdresses).

Some pilgrims, however, simply do not care and do not wear masks. Some pilgrims are also oversensitive when praying next to someone coughing or sneezing, and do not hesitate to switch their places or walk away in the middle of prayers. Others opt to pray in the courtyards outside believing it is less risky to pray there than inside.

Saud Al-Ali, a visitor from the Eastern Province, came to Makkah for Umrah but did not bring his children fearing they might catch swine flu. “I wear the mask every day. I also sometimes pray inside my hotel,” he said.

Majdi Abu Al-Ezz, an Egyptian pilgrim, said he was initially scared but when the disease became global and there were some deaths reported in the Kingdom he stopped caring. “I believe that when my time comes, it will come. Yes people need to be careful and follow the Health Ministry’s health and safety advice. However, I refuse to live in fear. I came to Makkah to answer the call of Allah and I believe Allah will protect me,” he said.

Majed Al-Harbi, a taxi driver, said swine flu has not affected his business so far.

“We heard that the number of people coming for Umrah from outside the Kingdom will fall and some countries have put a bar on people coming from there, but the business is so far normal. I think the number of domestic visitors has increased and made up for the number of people who have not come,” he added.

Al-Harbi does not believe in swine flu saying it is a ruse created by medical companies to scare people and sell medicine.

“The weather in Makkah is hot and I believe that the car pollution will scare swine flu away. I tell those who are scared of coming that not one case of swine flu has been detected in Makkah. Most of the cases were in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province. There is simply nothing to be scared of,” he said.

In nearby pharmacies, the sale of face masks has increased dramatically with stocks running out. Pharmacy representatives say that expatriates buy masks in large quantities to resell them on the streets at higher prices.