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The following information has been received from Bishop Baxter regarding swine flu.

Subject: The Swine Flu

From: The Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, Nathan D. Baxter, Bishop

To: All Parishes for advice and as a teaching document

Swine flu has already been declared a pandemic with requisite precautions issued by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia (CDC). As your Bishop I have received telephone calls from concerned Priests and Parishioners as to methods we can employ to diminish the impact of this potentially fatal disease. Most questions center around what precautions may be taken during worship services. Also, it is critical that we as churches, dioceses and caregivers are prepared, in order to:

• maintain business continuity;
• provide for a collective worship life in the case of quarantine and disruption;
• bring God’s compassion

First: Understanding Swine Flu a little better:

Q: What are the symptoms?

A: The most common symptoms are fever, fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing, although some people also develop a runny nose, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhea, according to the CDC.

Q: What should you do if you have these symptoms?

A: Stay home from work or school, to avoid spreading your illness to other people. People should call their doctors to ask about the best treatment.

Q: How can people protect themselves?

A: People should wash their hands frequently. In the past, the CDC has said there isn't conclusive evidence to support using face masks.

1. Clergy, servers should wash their hands. Clergy, Eucharistic ministers, acolytes, all those preparing the table and anyone else handling communion elements should wash their hands (or use hand sanitizer) immediately before distributing communion and again afterward. Proper hand washing includes vigorous rubbing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds; sing the first verse of any song and it will be about the right length of time. If using hand sanitizer, use a dime-sized amount and rub vigorously until hands are dry

2. Rotate and firmly wipe the chalice. Those administering the chalice should be certain to rotate the cup at least a quarter-turn after each communicant and to wipe the inside and outside of the chalice rim firmly with a purificator. Use fresh purificators frequently, and wash soiled linens in hot, soapy water. Some studies suggest the Swine Flu does not pass via use of a common cup.

3. Intinction cautions. Studies have shown that the greatest risk of contamination during communion comes when worshippers intinct for themselves. To minimize risk, it is may be suggested to congregants during this time that only the clergy or Eucharistic minister dip wafers into the chalice for all communicants. Care should be exercised to place the wafer on the person’s tongue without touching the tongue or mouth. A separate Chalice may be used for those wishing to intinct. Again, the communicant should not intinct for them self. The Chalice for intinction should follow the main Chalice

4. Communion in one kind. Worshippers should also know that if they are concerned about receiving the wine, communion in one kind – bread only – is a full communion. Wafers are to be used versus homemade breads.

5. At the Peace. Casual handshakes during the Peace have not been documented as a high risk for infection, but the possibility does exist for person-to-person disease transmission. Those concerned, however, can offer the Peace by word only or by gesture.

6. Make sanitizing gel available. Churches may wish to make hand sanitizing gel available to worshippers. Such sanitizers should be placed in the back of the Church for use as worshippers enter the Church at the start of the service. Use before receiving communion will reduce the risk of infection. Sanitizing wipes may be used to “wipe down” common use places such as door knobs, etc.

Each Parish Priest, in consultation with his/her Vestry, must decide how and when precautions should be taken in their respective Parish.

As with any illness, worshippers who exhibit any symptoms of flu should be encouraged to stay home. Should a member of a family present with flu-like symptoms the entire family should remain at home.

The Parish Priest shall develop protocols for ensuring the homebound receive the Eucharist. These protocols must include, at minimum, pre-use of sanitizing handwashing (including waterless), and post visit decontamination via handwashing.

Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Anxiety and fear will be the greatest enemies in this situation—fear for our own personal safety, fear for the safety of our family and anxiety for the future in a society disrupted by illness. It will be important to remain rooted in the knowledge of the love of God that is stronger than anything we may fear. Common sense and care in following guidelines for health and safety will need to be partnered with a willingness to risk that is founded in the self-giving example of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:5-11).

Throughout history the church has been a focal point for healing and hope. The possibility of a pandemic in our midst is an opportunity to proclaim our message of healing and hope anew.

Eliminating all risk is impossible. Our witness of faith is one which embraces risk. Jesus risked his life in loving God and teaches us that when we live as a community of faith we can embrace fully the risk of living within our world.

Where can people get more information?

If you follow any of the blue, underlined links below, use your back button to return to this page.

The Center for Disease Control offers a wealth of information on its special swine flu website. It also includes an up-to-date list of what states have seen outbreaks. Note especially their section, Swine Flu and You.  It includes information about flu symptoms, how to cut down the risk of exposure and what to do if you become ill.

Episcopal Relief and Development has created a special website  devoted to planning in the event of a pandemic influenza outbreak.

National Episcopal Health Ministries has a section on its website devoted to disaster preparedness, including dealing with pandemic influenza. While their document deals with avian flu (H5N1 influenza) and not this version of swine flu (H1N1), many of the planning ideas apply to any flu outbreak.