TEHRAN, July 28 (Mehr News Agency) -- The number of people found infected with swine flu virus has reached 42, the director of the infectious diseases management department at the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

Mohammad-Mahdi Gooya requested citizens to postpone Umrah travels as far as possible in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

He said, during an emergency meeting that was held in the Egyptian capital Cairo last Wednesday, it was decided that people under 5 or above 65, people with chronic heart or pulmonary diseases are prohibited from traveling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah or Hajj pilgrimages.

The emergency meeting, which was organized by the Cairo-based Regional Office of the World Health Organization for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), discussed the procedures and precautionary measures for combating swine flu and reducing its spread during Haj and Umrah this year.

Gooya said there were also some infected persons among the travelers to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the U.S.

The official urged the people to avoid unnecessary travels or put them off until a late time and be cautious about their health and personal hygiene.

... Payvand News - 07/28/09 ... --