Swine flu hits handshaking in church

Editorial Department Sarah Saunderson - 1503 • Published 13 Aug 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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If multiple cases of swine flu break out in schools in the coming Autumn term, incident meetings with health and education authorities will decide if the schools need to close.

There are concerns that the flu could spread more rapidly when schools and pre-schools re-open in a few weeks' time. Evidence from seasonal flu shows that children secrete larger quantities of the virus and longer than adults, which can lead to the rapid spread of infection when they are together in school. Under fives are included in the government's "at risk" group for swine flu.

And in a separate development, Bishops in the Church of Ireland have indicated to parishioners that they may choose to avoid the common cup of wine at Holy Communion, describing it as "advisable" if there is a significant rise in rates of swine flu infection in Ireland. And an Editorial in this week's Church of Ireland Gazette has suggested suspending hand shaking in church for the time being.

This week the Department of Education said there were no plans to delay schools starting back after the summer break. "The Department of Education (DE) has been working closely with health professionals and any decisions to close schools will be taken only on their recommendation," a DE spokesperson said.

The DE spokesperson outlined the situation should a number of pupils develop swine flu. "In circumstances where there are multiple cases, parents, teachers, Principals and pupils will get advice on their specific circumstances and decisions will be taken by the local health professionals. There will be an incident meeting, held at a very early stage, involving representatives of the relevant health and educational authorities who will look at all actions that are necessary to protect the health of the pupils and staff. This will include discussions on whether the school needs to be closed. The school will be fully involved in the decision making process," she said.

Pupils who fall ill while at school are to placed away from other children while waiting to go home. "There are contingency plans already in place for when a child falls ill, these will apply in this instance. If a child develops flu-like symptoms at school, arrangements should be made for them to be taken home as soon as possible on advice from health professionals. Whilst waiting to go home, they should be placed in a suitable area, such as a medical room or small office, away from other children, but where an eye can be kept on them to ensure that they are all right.

"All schools have individual emergency plans in place to deal with this type of situation along with many others. These plans include up to date contact details for parents or guardians. The Department will receive advice and guidance from health professionals and will issue updated information to Principals and parents."

One Enniskillen day nursery, which looks after both babies and children, has introduced hand sanitisers for parents and staff to use. It is a precautionary measure as no child at the nursery has been ill with flu.

It has been reported that the first swine flu vaccines are likely to be licensed for use in the general population in September. However, retired Lisnaskea GP, Dr. Norbert Lynch believes it may be October. He commented: "My main concern is about the availability of the vaccine and whether it will arrive before or after Swine flu. If the peak of cases comes before the vaccine is available, that's my main worry."

He said the Health Service has to decide who should get the vaccine first. "Should health care workers get the vaccine first so they don't become sick and have to take off work? Or should it be given to pregnant women and asthmatics?"

He predicted that the number of deaths from Swine Flu (currently over 1,000 worldwide) will be less than in previous flu pandemics and concluded: "The fear of swine flu is more severe than the flu itself. For the vast majority, it is a minor illness. The total number of deaths may be less than previous pandemics. The number of deaths in young people may be greater".

Meanwhile, the pandemic may begin to have an effect on the spiritual life of some members of the community. In advice to clergy from the Archbishops and Bishops on the H1NI flu pandemic in the Church of Ireland Gazette, it reads: "Communicants may, if they wish, choose to avoid the common cup and receive in one kind only [bread]. This is acceptable and may be advisable if we see a significant rise in the rates of infection in Ireland".

In terms of hand-shaking, the Bishops write: "It is possible to continue to exchange the Peace as long as proper hand and good general hygiene is observed".

However, this week's editorial in the publication says that in the current context "it is preferable for the time being to suspend general hand shaking at Church".

The editorial says the Church of Ireland bishops' recent interim advice appears on the surface to be more positive about continuing the current practice at the Peace than it in fact is. It says that the bishops' condition for continuing to exchange the Peace - proper hand hygiene - cannot be taken for granted and is not always practicable at Church services.

The global flu pandemic was declared by the World Health Organisation on June 11. We are now in the 'treatment' phase meaning that the outbreak cannot be contained. The routine testing of suspected cases and the tracing of close contacts of a symptomatic patient is being discontinued. The level of flu in the community is being monitored using a range of surveillance mechanisms through GP practices, Out of Hours centres and hospital surveillance systems.

The Department of Health said that GP consultations for flu and flu-like illness had shown a further slight increase and Out of Hours calls for flu and flu-like illness also increased again. There were 16 new cases of laboratory confirmed swine flu last week.

The total number of laboratory confirmed cases in Northern Ireland up to noon on August 5 was 83. There have been no deaths related to swine flu.

Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Elizabeth Mitchell: "If you think you have swine flu stay at home, please do not visit your GP practice, pharmacy or A&E in person. For otherwise fit and healthy people, there is usually no need to take antivirals. Most people will recover at home by taking simple measures to alleviate symptoms such as resting, taking paracetamol and drinking plenty of fluids. If, however, your condition suddenly deteriorates or is getting worse after seven days (five for a child) then you should contact your GP or out-of-hours service".

Some groups of people are more at risk of serious illness if they catch swine flu, and will need to start taking antivirals as soon as they are confirmed with the illness. People who are particularly susceptible are those with Chronic lung disease, Chronic heart disease, Chronic kidney disease, Chronic liver disease, Chronic neurological disease, Immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment), Diabetes mellitus, Patients who have had drug treatment for asthma within the past three years, Pregnant women, People aged 65 years and older and young children under five years old. Advice is that it is vital that people in these higher risk groups get antivirals and start taking them as soon as possible - within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

For further information visit the nidirect website, or call the Northern Ireland swine flu helpline on 0800 0 514 142 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday); textphone 18001 0800 0 514 142. Information is also available on the swine flu information line 0800 1 513 513.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 13 Aug 09

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