SUGGESTIONS to avoid crowds as a precaution against a new flu virus have failed to drag down attendance during Sunday masses in Cebu, Catholic church representatives said yesterday.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has said that as a “last resort,” it would consider suspending masses should the spread of the Influenza A (H1N1) in the country worsen.

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The country recently placed eighth in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list of A(H1N1)-affected countries, with the United States and Mexico heading the list.

Despite an increase in cases, Msgr. Achilles Dakay said in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu that church attendance in the Cebu Archdiocese remained normal, without any signs of a drop.

Dakay serves as the archdiocese’s media liaison officer.

In the towns, officials are trying to stay vigilant but calm in dealing with the H1N1 threat.

Although the flu cases in the Philippine Science High School Region 7 were dismissed as common colds, Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos said the town is still preparing, in case of an outbreak.

He told Sun.Star they have already purchased testing materials for ordinary flu and are closely monitoring those with colds. Swab test specimens have been sent to Cebu City.

“Kami nangandam lang ana (We just want to be ready),” said Galeos.

No one has tested positive for Influenza A(H1N1) in Argao’s schools, and the mayor assured that schools have already been properly informed of the standard procedure should they find suspected cases.

Isidro Kintanar Memorial Hospital, a district hospital, has assigned a room where suspected influenza A(H1N1) patients may be treated while awaiting test results.

Wash

Some parishes in Cebu City, such as the Sto. Rosario Parish on P. del Rosario, have taken measures to prevent a possible spread of the swine flu virus.

Bro. Joseph Sagun of Sto. Rosario Parish said that in response to reports that the A (H1N1) virus has entered the region, they asked the resident priests and lay ministers to wash their hands or sanitize them with alcohol before and after they give the communion.

The parish’s comfort rooms have hand sanitizers like alcohol gel and anti-bacterial soap for churchgoers.

During the communion, they emphasize to churchgoers to receive the communion wafer with their hands rather than their mouth, added Sagun.

Church attendance, however, remains normal in the parish’s 13 masses every Sunday. For each mass, about 2,000 people participate.

Mass

Fr. Borge Lesiones of the St. Joseph Parish in Tabunok, Talisay City told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday the number of churchgoers in their parish remains at its peak, even with the flu scare.

“Every misa, puno-puno gyud ang among church, napa gani’y musimba bisag sa gawas lang magtindog (The church is full during each mass, and there are even some participants who end up standing outside),” said Lesiones.

The parish conducts 11 masses every Sunday.

Lesiones added that despite reports that communion should be taken by hand, some of their churchgoers still choose to receive the communion host through the mouth.

Church workers and lay ministers, however, make sure to clean their hands before and after communion.

In Dalaguete town, two hospitals have different approaches to the new flu threat.

Oral medicines were purchased last June for Dr. Idefonso Alcantara Memorial Hospital, said medical director Ensoñacion Alcantara.

No worry

She added that their staff and medical technologist received training from the Department of Health and that they have also assigned a room for suspected cases.

“We are prepared,” Alcantara said.

But Julio Cardinal Rosales Memorial Hospital has neither assigned a special ward nor purchased additional medicines.

“We should not worry. This is not a very aggressive virus,” said Dr. Tomas R. Hofer II, resident physician.

Suspected cases shall be treated the same way as the common flu. Influenza A(H1N1) is just like any viral infection, Hofer said. It only becomes a potentially fatal risk among those whose immune systems are compromised, like “when the patient has cancer, diabetes or is extremely old or extremely young.”

Still another southern Cebu town, Boljoon, has spread information on A(H1N1) through the Rural Health Unit.

It has no hospital. Its rural health center, though, has no facilities for treating suspected cases and has not purchased medicine, said RHU nurse Vivian Awe.(GPQ/JKV)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on July 6, 2009.