Skip the Bakrid tradition in this year

Lucknow, Sept 02: The Uttar Pradesh Muslim clerics have advised the Muslim community to skip the traditional hug this Bakrid (Eid al-Adha) in the wake of the spreading Swine Flu disease.

Around 2,300 people have infected by swine flu in 66 districts out of 75 districts in the state. Records say that up 53 members of them have died. This is the first time Swine flu spread in UP heavily.

'Greet but don't embrace and hug' this Bakr-eid to protect each other from the epidemic Swine Flu. "We are appealing to people to skip the tradition this year," Cleric Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali was quoted.

The health advisory of prominent Muslim clerics has been forwarded to mosques, madarsas, and leaders in across the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The cleric said that after the morning prayer, all the Muslims hug each other and shake hands and this would increase the risk of the contagious disease. He also said that it would be a shame if a festival helps in spreading the disease and people lose their lives.

The Muslim clerics advised the Muslim community to stay away from crowded places and get vaccinated. They have also advised the people infected with Swine Flu to stay back home and use a sterilized mask.

Earlier, Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh had said that the infection spreads during monsoon."Precaution and protection are the best treatment of disease like Swine Flu," he advised.