Keeping Your Congregation Healthy

Be Prepared...

Congregations, school, places of business, and anywhere people gather are searching for ways to help prevent the spread of the seasonal and H1N1 ("Swine") flu viruses. As a resource for congregations, the National Council of Churches has prepared a best practices document to assist congregations in planning for possible outbreaks of the flu virus within their community. Congregations are urged to review and implement the recommendations in the document in order to prevent the spread of flu viruses.

National Council of Churches H1N1 (Swine Flu) and Seasonal Flu Best Practices for Congregations (PDF)

Additional Resources and Links

Share Your Ideas With Others
Disciples News Service: Congregations Should Take Positive Steps To Prepare For Possible Viral Outbreak - October 8, 2009
Letter from General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins, Executive Director of Week of Compassion Amy Gopp, and former vice moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Donald T. Lucey, M.D. (PDF)
Centers for Disease Control: 2009 H1N1 Flu Situation Report and Resources
National Council of Churches Health Task Force: www.health-ministries.org

Latest Updates from the CDC Concerning the H1N1 Flu Virus

The following headlines are provided by the Centers for Disease Control via an RSS feed and are automatically updated as information becomes available.

UPDATE: 2009 H1N1 Flu International Situation Update
This report provides an update to the international situation as of January 31, 2010. The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to report updated 2009 H1N1 flu-associated laboratory-confirmed cases and deaths on its Web page.
UPDATE: Weekly FluView Map and Surveillance Report for Week Ending January 30, 2010
During week 4 (January 24-30, 2010), influenza activity remained at approximately the same levels as last week in the U.S. 119 (3.2%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.
UPDATE: Influenza and Pneumonia-Associated Hospitalizations and Deaths from August 30, 2009 to January 30, 2010
FluView reports that for the week of January 24-30, 2010, flu activity in the United States remained about the same as during the previous week. Flu activity is relatively low at this time, with most flu continuing to be caused by 2009 H1N1. Flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, but it is expected to continue for several more months.
NEW: Shortened Expiration Period For Sanofi Pasteur 2009 H1N1 Vaccine In Pre-filled Syringes Questions & Answers
All lots of monovalent 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in pre-filled syringes manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, not included in the two earlier recalls, should now be administered by February 15, 2010 regardless of the expiration imprinted on the package.
NEW: Non-Safety-Related Voluntary Recall Of Sanofi Pasteur 2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccine In Pre-filled Syringes Questions and Answers
In recent testing of its influenza A (H1N1) monovalent vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur found five distributed lots of single-dose, pre-filled syringe pediatric (0.25 mL) vaccine and one distributed lot of single-dose pre-filled syringe for older children and adults (0.5 mL) vaccine had potency below pre-specified limits.

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Share Your Ideas

Has your congregation already prepared for this flu season? What ideas do you have to help keep your members healthy? Share your ideas and help other congregations create a safe environment for community and worship.

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Ideas from the Community

1 total comments.

From: Jo Ann Zimmerman - Thursday, October 22, 2009

At First Christian Church, Des Moines, we have had conversations re H1N1 and the Health Ministry has posted information shared with other Parish Nurses. We have placed additional hand sanitizer around the building. Unfortunately,; we do not have additional custodial help to do all the antibacterial/viral cleansing recommended.