CAIRO: Cairo Governor Abdel-Azim Wazeer on Sunday banned the annual celebration of the birth of Sayeda Zeinab (Prophet Mohamed s granddaughter) upon the recommendation of the Health Ministry, the Doctors' Syndicate, representatives of the Ministry of Religious Endowments and the World Health Organization. Crowds of citizens from Egypt's various governorates gather in the poorly ventilated Sayeda Zeinab district creating a dangerous environment conducive to the spread of disease. The media relations department at the Cairo governorate enumerated the measures that will be taken to ensure the implementation of this decision. The Cairo Governor has instructed security bodies and the ministry of endowments to diffuse large gatherings, ban the establishment of food stalls and limit the celebration to praying inside the mosque only. Sheikh Mahmoud Ashour, former deputy for Al-Azhar and member of the Islamic Research Center said, It is the government's duty to preserve public health and ensure public safety. This decision reflects the responsibility of the state. Islam advises people to shield themselves from risks. In related news, Abdel Rahman Shahin, the official spokesman of the Health Ministry announced five new cases of H1N1 virus, bringing the total number of people infected in Egypt to 97 cases, 79 of which have fully recovered and 18 currently under treatment.
