Category: Public Health
St. John Vianney Catholic Church open after Palm Sunday mystery illness
ST. PETE BEACH — Holy Week services at St. John Vianney Catholic Church are continuing as scheduled this week, despite a two-hour emergency closing Sunday when eight parishioners became ill. The cause of the illness, first reported as possible methane gas from clogged sewer lines, is actually unknown. "The incident is still under investigation. So [...]
Flu fears abating, church OK’s resuming rituals
As fears of the swine flu fade, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is urging parishes to reinstitute two venerated rituals, passing the communion chalice and passing the peace, by Palm Sunday in late March. In an e-mail sent late Wednesday to its 291 parishes, the archdiocese announced it would soon be safe to resume [...]
Carbon monoxide levels cause church evacuation
Between 60 and 70 people were evacuated Tuesday night from the Word of God Worship Center when Milwaukee fire fighters responding to a medical emergency detected elevated carbon monoxide levels, a fire official said. After being called to the center at 3320 W. Vliet St. at 9:35 p.m. a carbon monoxide detector carried by a [...]
Carbon monoxide at church sends 2 to hospital
Two women were taken to hospital after carbon monoxide seeped into an east-end church Tuesday. Firefighters were called to St. Matthew's Anglican church on Wellington Street East after a carbon monoxide alarm sounded at about 10:30 a.m. A faulty vent for the church's boiler caused "fairly high" readings of the poisonous gas in the lower-level [...]
13 treated for carbon monoxide poisoning at Pr. Georges church
As many as 13 people received emergency treatment Saturday night after apparently being sickened by carbon monoxide at a church in Prince George's County, a county fire official said. A witness described commotion and moments of confusion outside St. Bernard's Church in the Riverdale Park area as rescue equipment arrived, firefighters hooked up hoses, parishioners [...]
Sunday school takes temperatures to sweep for swine flu
President Obama has declared the swine flu a national emergency. And now, some church goers are taking it seriously. In fact, they're taking temperatures to see who can get in the door. Its all about preventing the H1N1 strain in kids. While some parents like the precaution, there are those that wonder if this is [...]
Churches, synagogues taking steps to prevent spread of H1N1 virus
In the small chapel at Christ Church in Andover, a bottle of hand sanitizer sits next to the hosts and wine to be distributed at Communion. The image might seem odd, but it's becoming more and more common in churches and synagogues throughout the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire, as houses of worship take [...]
Worshipers, Faith Leaders Take Cues From Federal Officials on Warding Off Swine Flu
The White House and federal health officials have released guidelines recommending that worshipers take precautions against spreading germs to reduce the risk of contracting swine flu. Marilyn Meyers, a member of Washington National Cathedral, already had thought about the health risks involved in her church’s services. On Sunday, as she has for the past several [...]
Church fighting spread of flu
The Altoona-Johnstown Roman Catholic Diocese is suspending the use of wine for Holy Communion and the practice of handshaking, at least temporarily, as a measure to prevent the spread of swine flu. The measures take effect by the weekend of Oct. 17-18, said Tony DeGol, secretary for communications. “The bishops of Pennsylvania met recently and [...]
Passing Peace At Church Could Mean Passing The Swine Flu
Omaha, NE: From sharing a handshake to sharing a communal cup, churches are relying on more than prayer to protect themselves from Swine Flu. A sign of peace is passed by a simple handshake. A handshake that could also be passing the flu. So some churches are taking action to protect their congregations. Parishioners fill [...]
Diocese issues guidelines for preventing spread of H1N1 Influenza
On Sept. 30, the Catholic Diocese of Fargo issued liturgical guidelines for clergy and parishioners encouraging voluntary actions that should assist in preventing the spread of H1N1 Influenza. In the Catholic Church, parishioners may receive Holy Communion under the form of consecrated bread, known as the Precious Body of Christ, and consecrated wine, known as [...]
London diocese preps for H1N1
The Roman Catholic Diocese of London has "a pandemic plan in place" to prevent the spread of the H1N1 pandemic flu virus, Bishop Ronald Fabbro announced Tuesday. In a letter to parishioners, Fabbro said his diocese has received "many inquiries" about the diocese’s prevention plan. "The diocese is taking these concerns seriously and is committed [...]
Sanitizer, common sense aid Oklahoma churches in flu fight Read more
From Buddhists to Baptists, Oklahoma City metro houses of worship are making efforts to prevent the spread of swine flu or H1N1, but religious leaders said most people are taking their own precautions. For Quail Springs Baptist Church, that meant the placement this week of large dispensers of hand sanitizers at water fountains and other [...]
Winnipeg churches ban handshakes over H1N1
The Catholic Archdiocese of Winnipeg has banned handshaking between church-goers over concerns it could lead people to contract the H1N1 influenza virus, also known as swine flu. In a statement Thursday, Archbishop James Weisgerber said all city Catholic churches and schools are now in "Stage 1" of a three-stage pandemic prevention plan. That means the [...]
Churches adapt to the threat of the H1N1 virus
Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) – Churches are taking extra pre-cautions to keep the deadly swine flu from affecting more communities in our area. Person-to-person contact is the easiest way to spread the virus, leaving Sunday mornings a prime-time to get sick. “We are mindful of the fact that this is a place where the virus [...]
