Peace be with flu: Churchgoers encouraged to not touch

CATHOLIC churchgoers in West Cornwall have been urged to stop shaking hands with each other during mass after fears about the spread of swine flu.

Parishioners in Penzance, Hayle and St Ives now only speak the traditional 'peace' greeting to prevent the H1N1 virus being passed from hand to hand.

A local directive, which also ends the taking of wine from the chalice, was announced in a newsletter and implemented during services last weekend.

Parish Priest, Father Philip Dyson, said: "It is just a sensible measure to try to limit the spread of the disease.

"The Bishops' conference suggested that the chalice be withdrawn and communion be taken by hand.

"It was decided that once the World Health Organisation raised the (pandemic) level to six that this would happen."

The measure comes after sixth formers at a private boarding school in Penzance were placed in isolation following an outbreak last week.

Nine cases of the virus were detected at the Bolitho school, with a further adult testing positive in Penzance on Wednesday.

The Health Protection Agency said the latest case was not connected to the school but had been contracted out of the county.

The head teacher, David Dobson, criticised health officials for not responding quickly enough to the outbreak, which has been contained within the school.

Spokesman for the church diocese, Michael Fay, said the bishop had suspended use of the chalice and taking of the host on the tongue on June 12.

Mr Fay said: "It is just being prudent so that if there was an escalation in the area it would minimise the possibility of spreading it. If someone wants to be more careful it is up to them."

Congregation

Pat Crellin, a member of the congregation at St Joseph's in Hayle, said the move by church officials was a sensible decision to protect the weak and elderly from contracting the disease.

"Originally (health officials) were quite concerned about the disease and people have died from it – it is just sensible because it is contagious," she said.

A spokesman the Health Protection Agency said: "People do need to maintain good hand hygiene but we would not say you should not touch any other human being – that would be ridiculous.

"It is an unusual type of flu but just flu and is a mild illness in the vast majority of cases."

Officials say the virus can only be contracted from an infected person who has symptoms.

Anyone who is suffering flu-like symptoms and feels they may have been in direct contact with someone with the virus is advised to contact their GP or NHS Direct.