Local schools and churches are taking precautions against the flu. One local church has made some temporary changes to keep parishioners flu free.
Fourth graders at Christ the King school are keeping the flu out of the classroom by keeping their hands clean. They may also notice a difference when they attend mass on Wednesdays.
"We had an email come out from out pastor Father Bill Rose who stated that he's stopping distrIbuting the precious blood at school masses on Wednesday after noon and the sign of peace due to more of the hand contact because of the spreading of the germs that come from the contact of the hands," said the principal of Christ the King Joe Carroll.
The flu has hit at least 47 states, but isn't an epidemic in our area just yet. The catholic diocese is prepared if the virus hits our area. The director of the office of divine worship for the catholic diocese sent this letter to local pastors. In part it states it's up to the discretion of local priests to suspend the distribution of wine during communion and the sign of peace a precaution because of flu concerns.
"Where we are shaking each others hands or giving each other an embrace perhaps that isn't the best thing to do during an epidemic," said Mosignor Michael Billian.
Mosignor Michael Billian is the pastor of Corpus Christi University Parish and Blessed Sacrament Parish.
"I've kept my hand on the pulse of my two parishes and we haven't gotten much influenza yet her so we haven't made nay changes yet but we are prepared to if that epidemic gets to a level where we need to," said Mosignor Michael Billian.
Although he doesn't feel the need to alter mass yet. Administrators at Christ the king didn't want to take any changes. Students are more at risk of getting the virus.
"I think it's hard with having kid of my own you want to send them to school so if they can make it but if they show any signs please keep them at home. They need to be fever free for 24 hours you want them hear at school but you're also taking the risk of infecting other students," said Mr. Carroll
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