Iranian Government banned its citizens from going on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia during Ramadan holy month, which this year starts in August due to propagation of A/H1N1virus, Reuters reports.

“Our citizens are banned from attending holy places of Saudi Arabia during month of Ramadan”, Iranian Health Ministry officer stated. The alarm is reasoned by 145 cases of A/H1N1 registered in the country, and the palmers might be amenable to the infection. Around 500.000 Iranian pilgrims head for the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia each year.