CRC Offers Guidelines in Flu Season

Oct. 20, 2009 — The Christian Reformed Church is providing information to help people and congregations minimize the risk of potential exposure, illness, and spread of flu viruses including the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that the H1N1 influenza virus situation has moved to a phase five, a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent. Public health officials predict that the H1N1 virus will return in the early fall with H1N1 influenza cases in the United States and Canada.

The HINI is a respiratory infection caused by viruses that regularly cause outbreaks in pigs. Symptoms are similar to that of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, lethargy, headache, chills and fatigue. It is possible to contract both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus, since exposure to one does not give immunity to the other.

“It’s important to identify the H1N1 high risk groups so they could inquire from public health officials and care providers on how to get the novel H1N1 vaccine,” says Alan Talens, health adviser to the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee.

Pregnant women, children six months-18 yrs old, adults with health conditions vulnerable to complications and health care and emergency medical workers are in the high-risk category.

“Care givers of younger infants are recommended to get the vaccine because children younger than six months old are higher risk but cannot be vaccinated,” says Talens.

“Because this is a disease that is occurring widely and is highly contagious, public health recommendations are aimed not at containment, but rather at mitigation, or reducing the burden of disease and minimizing its spread.”

Pastors and congregational leaders can play an important role as churches and communities move into flu season, say national church leaders,by taking the time now to talk with custodial staff, secretarial staff, and governing boards about how to best prevent or prepare for a possible outbreak.

For more information visit Best Practices for Congregations or CRWRC Flu Pandemic Info.

Up-to-date travel planning information on H1N1 influenza virus can be found:

• World Health Organization (WHO): http://www.who.int/en/
• United Nations: http://un-influenza.org
• CDC - Travel: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): http://www.pandemicflu.gov/travel/index.html.

—Chris Meehan, CRC Communications