Identifiable swine flu cases continue to rise across the nation, with the first cases in Alabama spotted in Madison and Montgomery last week. But growing at an even faster rate is the fear of intercepting this transmittable virus, leaving many Baptist churches asking, “What do we do?”
When a case of the swine flu (also known as H1N1 flu) is spotted in a school, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) recommends the school close its doors until seven days after the last student’s recovery, noting that the infectious period is one day before the symptoms show up until seven days after symptoms develop.
Emergency plans should be no different for a church, said Takenya Taylor, director of the ADPH risk communication branch.
“If a church member becomes ill with swine flu, that church should then decide whether or not to cancel services and programs based on the information that Public Health is providing concerning the swine flu infection period,” Taylor said. “As the situation evolves, guidance may change.”
Harold Sellers, executive director of missions for Madison Baptist Association, said with the cases in his county, he anticipates a decline in church attendance, as parents will want to keep their children away from large gatherings of other children.
The best thing church leaders can do during this time is “minister to those people and take caution,” he said, giving examples of offering home-delivery food service to affected families and counseling to concerned parents.
Taylor added, “If people are ill, particularly with fever, muscle aches and other common symptoms of the flu, they should stay home and contact their private physician for treatment.”
Preventative measures include:
• covering nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, disposing of the tissue promptly
• cleansing hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based cleaners
• avoiding hand contact with eyes, nose or mouth
• avoiding close contact with the sick
Jo Ann Collier, director of preschool ministries at Whitesburg Baptist Church, Huntsville, said children’s ministries can also take this opportunity to enforce more carefully “what most of us already have as guidelines.”
“[Children] need to be reminded of washing their hands after they’ve been to the rest room and not to drink or eat after one another. … And in preschool rooms, if a child has played with a toy, pick it up, wash it and sanitize it before it’s used again. I think it’s a good chance for all of us to review good hygiene and health practices.”
And if the church or children’s ministry program does close, use that time to “do a little extra-deep cleaning,” Collier said.
“We’ve been steam cleaning carpets and washing toys with bleach solution and trying to do a good job of thoroughly cleaning each room,” she said. Teachers should also be encouraged to wash their hands before and after activities such as diapering and serving food.
At press time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reported 141 confirmed swine flu cases with one death in the United States. Worldwide 13 countries had confirmed 365 cases.
“With the reports coming from other states and countries in the world, unfortunately, it is not surprising that we have detected probable cases in Alabama,” Donald Williamson, ADPH state health officer, said in a press statement.
“At this point, I’m grateful that no one in Alabama has yet required hospitalization, but I am concerned we will continue to see additional cases, some of which may be more severe. The department, government officials and the news media are working to reduce the impact of this epidemic as much as possible.”
If the outbreak continues to grow, then Mickey Caison, team leader for the North American Mission Board’s adult volunteer mobilization team, said churches must look to other actions.
“You really have to think about how you do everything. Churches would have to rethink how they would minister to members and to their communities,” he said. “Churches couldn’t hold worship services, would have to cancel their ballgames — anything that congregates people.”
Ron Madison, pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Huntsville, added that unless the government came out with suggestions to close, the Madison Association church would continue with business as usual and allow families to decide what action to take on a case-by-case basis.
Collier agreed that’s the best solution for the present situation.
“Public Health is not currently making recommendations about whether organizations (or churches) should cancel events,” Taylor said.
For more information and up-to-date cases, visit www.adph.org. (BP contributed)
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