MECCA, Saudi Arabia -- The hajj to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina begins today.
An estimated 2.5 million Muslims have come to Mecca to perform the annual holy pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Numbers are reportedly down this year due to concerns about swine flu.
The Saudi Arabian government has taken extra measures to provide medical facilities and personnel and installed equipment to screen pilgrims for signs of the illness.
More than 100,000 police and security force members are on duty in the Mecca and Medina areas.
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