Egypt has ordered all schools and universities to close until October in an attempt to slow the spread of swine flu. State-run schools were due to start the academic year in the last week of September. Foreign schools that have already started will also be affected. Restrictions have already been imposed on those wanting to attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage in November. Only those between the ages of 25 and 65 will be granted the necessary visas. Health Minister Hatem al-Gabaly refused to rule out an all-out ban on Hajj travel if the outlook becomes worse. A similar ban was last imposed in 1947 due to a cholera epidemic. The Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that five new cases of swine flu had been detected. There have been nearly 900 confirmed cases and two deaths in Egypt from swine flu. Globally more than 3,000 have died since the virus first appeared in April 2009.