| The Hajj, an obligatory pilgrimage for Muslims, began | | | | and awareness about how one can protect himself |
| this year on Wednesday with two twists: thinner | | | | or herself," said Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabbeeah, the Saudi |
| crowds and heavy rain. | | | | health minister. |
| A rare rainstorm inundated pilgrims in the city of Mina, | | | | A teenager and three elderly people have died of the |
| flooding tents and making conditions miserable for the | | | | H1N1 flu virus at the Hajj. |
| 2.5 million pilgrims performing the ancient rituals, | | | | The victims were a 17-year-old Nigerian female and a |
| according to Isha Sesay, CNN's correspondent there. | | | | Sudanese man, an Indian man and a Moroccan |
| The tents, where pilgrims plan to spend the night in | | | | woman who each were 75 years old. |
| prayer and contemplation, were leaking and flooding, | | | | Many of the 2 million pilgrims have been arriving days |
| giving rise to fears of disease, Sesay reported. | | | | and weeks ahead of the Hajj, which coincides with |
| She said, however, that the several hours of rain | | | | flu season. The rituals of the five-day event began |
| was not likely to stop any of the pilgrims from | | | | Wednesday. |
| performing the rituals. | | | | But with fewer visitors, businesses are feeling the |
| "They've saved for years to get here," Sesay | | | | pinch this year. |
| reported. "This is a blessing. They're not going to let | | | | Shopkeeper Fahmi al-Rashidi said he has slashed |
| rain get in the way." | | | | prices of the gold he sells in Mecca's Al-Ghaza market. |
| She said no incidents had been reported among the | | | | "Business is lower than last year," he said. "I think |
| dimished number of pilgrims. | | | | swine flu fears combined with high gold prices are |
| Officials said the swine flu could be keeping pilgrims | | | | turning people away from spending." |
| from the fifth pillar of Islam, which requires devotees | | | | Another merchant, Fahd al-Qraishi, said a normal 20 |
| to journey to the holy city of Mecca at least once in | | | | percent profit has dropped to 5 percent. |
| their lifetime. | | | | Haji observed in second life |
| Saudi's Hajj Ministry said Wednesday that 40 percent | | | | The Hajj Ministry reported, however, a 17 percent |
| fewer Saudi pilgrims are participating in the ancient | | | | increase in the number of international pilgrims, some |
| rituals this year, largely due to fears of disease, | | | | of whom are enjoying discounted rates at hotels |
| though a greater number of international visitors had | | | | including the Hilton Makkah. |
| come. | | | | Then there was the real damper. |
| "Concerns about the spread of H1N1 may have | | | | Mecca resident Khaled Nemary said he had not seen |
| affected the turnout but we are confident of all | | | | so much rain in a quarter-century. |
| measures in place to increase monitoring of cases | | | | And the forecast? Showers through Friday. |