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Muslims begin the haj pilgrimage, heading to a tent camp outside the holy city of Mecca - Source: Reuters
Saudi Arabia said four pilgrims had died of the new H1N1 flu virus three days before the massive Muslim haj is due to begin, al-Hayat newspaper said.
The Health Ministry said the deaths were among pilgrims who came from outside Saudi Arabia, al-Hayat online news said.
Some 3 million Muslim pilgrims take part in the haj in the holy city of Mecca every year, including up to 2 million who travel from abroad. Haj rituals this year start on Wednesday.
Disease experts from the United States and Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, say that waves of H1N1 flu virus spread by pilgrims travelling to and from Mecca for this year's haj threaten to put pressure on healthcare systems around the world.
The pilgrimage provides perfect conditions for the spread of the H1N1 flu virus, which is transmitted by sneezing and physical contact.
