Chinese Mecca-bound pilgrims get swine flu shots

China will give swine flu vaccinations to thousands of Muslims about to make the annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, state media said, as authorities reported the mainland's third death from the illness.

Concerns over the hajj, which attracts about 3 million Muslims every year to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, have led several countries to impose travel bans over fears the mass gathering could speed the spread of swine flu. Arab health ministers in July banned children, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses from attending this year.

All of China's 12,700 Muslims making the pilgrimage this year will be inoculated against swine flu, the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing an earlier announcement by the China Islamic Association.

China has acted aggressively to detect and contain swine flu cases after being accused of failing to move quickly enough to stop the 2003 outbreak of SARS. Despite earlier measures such as strict quarantines, authorities say the swine flu virus is spreading from cities into the countryside.

A patient died from swine flu on Sunday in the far western region of Xinjiang, the Health Ministry said Monday in a regular update, without providing details. The previous two deaths also occurred in the west, in Qinghai province and Tibet.

The ministry said a total of 35,664 swine flu cases had been reported on the mainland by Monday, with 2,600 new cases since Friday. It said it was training health workers to respond to the surge in swine flu cases in autumn and the coming winter.

The government has licensed eight manufacturers in China to produce swine flu vaccines. Health authorities say they are expected to produce enough to inoculate 5 percent of China's population of 1.3 billion by the end of the year. Priority groups include students, health workers and people suffering chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

In northwestern Ningxia, home to China's largest community of the Hui Muslim minority group, more than 2,000 Muslim pilgrims were vaccinated against swine flu, Xinhua said.

Each paid 5 yuan ($0.73) to cover "equipment cost," the report said, citing Ma Shouyu, head of religious affairs of Haiyuan, a county in southern Ningxia.

The pilgrims were scheduled to depart on chartered flights from Saturday to Nov. 12 for Mecca, the report said.

The hajj is a duty for all able-bodied Muslims in their lifetime, and many Muslims save up their whole lives to make the journey.