CAIRO: The number of Egyptians performing pilgrimage will drop 30 to 40 percent this year due to travel restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of swine flu, an official said. In July, Arab health ministers recommended banning pilgrims older than 65 and younger than 12 from going on pilgrimage. Egypt began implementing the travel restrictions last month. The committee overseeing Haj, run by Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, “has decided that those turned away will not be replaced by other pilgrims,” the official said. “Those restricted from traveling amount to 30 to 40 percent of the total number of pilgrims, which is 70,000,” the official said, asking not to be named.