The H1N1 pandemic claimed four more lives of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia who were participating in the annual Mecca pilgrimage.

Health officials reported that they had not been vaccinated against the swine flu virus and came from Morocco, Sudan and Nigeria.

The officials also informed that three of these pilgrims were in their 70’s and the fourth one was a girl of 17 years.

The four victims were suffering from underlying medical conditions which makes the virus even more potent than it already is.

"These cases were discovered too late," Dr. Khaled Al-Marghalani, the spokesman for Health Ministry was quoted as saying. "Some were old, and the others had pre-existing chronic conditions."

The virus was first identified in April this year and has since then killed thousands of people and infected hundreds of thousands more.

Of the reported swine flu deaths these are just the latest ones.

Up to three million pilgrims participate every year in the holy pilgrimage. Muslims are required to attend the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia for at least once in their lives.