Nairobi — The government has allayed fears over the spread of the H1N1 virus to 3,000 Kenyan pilgrims paying homage to the holy city of Makkah for the annual Hajj.

Director of medical services Dr Shanez Sheriff assured the country that the pilgrims have been given proper guidelines on how to keep the virus at bay. The virus has already claimed the lives of four pilgrims.

"We have issued with them a three page manual of how to prevent themselves from the disease," said Dr Sheriff in a telephone interview with the Nation on Wednesday.

He revealed that seven government and private doctors are with the pilgrims in the holy city to ensure Kenyans receive fast hand treatment without relying on the Saudi Arabian authorities.

He said the team of doctors with different specialities would be giving continuous medical instructions to Kenyans so as to minimize chances of contracting the virus.

Dr Sheriff said on arrival the pilgrims will be screened at the airports to ensure none of them was carrying the virus back into the country.

Meanwhile, Kenya Hajj Mission has dismissed local media reports that Kenyans were among four pilgrims who died from the deadly virus in holy cities of Makkah and Madina in Saudi Arabia.

A senior official with Kenya Hajj Mission Sheikh Adan Wachu said Kenya ambassador in Riyadh, Mr Bakr Ogle confirmed that 3000 Kenyan pilgrims are safe and free from the disease.

"Ambassador Ogle sent us a statement yesterday confirming that no Kenyan had died from the virus and therefore reports from a section of the media were no true," said Mr Wachu in a telephone interview from Nairobi.

He revealed that among the dead is 17 year old Nigerian girl who died two days after arrival in the holy city of Madina.

Special mobile laboratories with capacity to detect the viral disease have been placed in the holy Mount of Arafat for today's Arafat congregation where 2.5 pilgrims will spend their day there to avoid the annulment of their Hajj.

Prophet Mohammed (SAW) delivered his final speech to the Muslims from Mount Arafat before his death several centuries ago.