Possible pandemic demands planning

Edmonton Archdiocese introduces draft for a disaster protocol

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez Rita Sandmaier, the pastoral care minister who drew up the pandemic draft guidelines, says, "Statistically, we are due for a pandemic."

By GLEN ARGAN
WCR Editor
Edmonton

Since an influenza pandemic could be on its way, the Edmonton Archdiocese is out to make sure its ready for such a disaster.

If a pandemic hits, local Catholics will not receive Communion from the chalice and will not be able to receive the Body of Christ on their tongues. There would be no Confession in enclosed confessionals and Confession would be held with the confessor and penitent sitting at least a metre apart, each wearing face masks.

Worst case scenario

In a worst case scenario, Church services would be cancelled altogether.

Those are just some of the stipulations laid out in a draft of Archdiocesan Influenza Pandemic Planning Guidelines now being circulated.

"The only thing tougher than planning for a disaster is explaining why you didn't," said Rita Sandmaier, the pastoral care minister who drew up the draft guidelines.

Sandmaier talked about the guidelines and the possibility of a pandemic with more than 30 staff at the Catholic Pastoral Centre Feb. 8. She plans to meet next with the Council of Priests before taking the draft to parish teams.

Pandemic alert

The world is currently in a pandemic alert phase for the Avian flu H5N1 virus. In 2006, there were 116 cases of the Avian flu reported around the world, resulting in 80 deaths. About half of those cases were in Indonesia, with growing numbers in Egypt and China.

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez John MacDonald, associate director of the office of Pastoral Care and Life Initiatives, gathered a sample survival supply one would need in the event of a pandemic.

The disease is still being transmitted only from animals to humans. But if it mutates and begins being spread among humans then a pandemic is underway, Sandmaier said.

Each of the three pandemics of the 20th century was different.

The Spanish flu of 1918-19 killed 40 to 50 million people, including 4,000 in Alberta. It mainly affected young healthy adults.

The Asian flu pandemic of 1957-58 led to between one and two million deaths. Infection rates were highest among school children, young adults and pregnant women.

The Hong Kong flu of 1968-69 killed about 700,000 people worldwide. Those over 65 were most likely to die.

"We hope that (the Avian flu) never mutates, but you never know," Sandmaier said. "Statistically, we are due for a pandemic."

In fact, experts predict another influenza pandemic will occur within the next five to 10 years.

Emergency supplies

Medical recommendations call for people to wash their hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds as the main means of preventing the spread of influenza, she noted. Various authorities recommend that families have an emergency food and water supply on hand for anywhere between three days and a month.

For parishes, a pandemic alert will mean many changes to slow the spread of the disease.

There will be no collection baskets, she said, because money tends to be dirty. Some churches plan to accept donations in locked boxes which remain closed for at least three days to give viruses time to die.

Gloves and masks

The distribution of Communion will be greatly affected under the proposed guidelines. Those who handle hosts prior to Mass will have to wear disposable gloves and masks.

Eucharistic ministers will have to wash their hands with a hand sanitizer immediately before and after distributing Communion. If the Eucharistic minister accidentally touches a communicant, he or she will have to stop distributing Communion and sanitize their hands before resuming.

As well, there will be no blessings given to non-communicants.

Under the draft guidelines, the Church may move to "alternate forms of worship" for Sundays. Parishioners will be reminded of the duty to keep Sundays holy. If public gatherings are banned, a simple Liturgy of the Word will be distributed to parishioners.

Sandmaier told the group, "Some of this sounds drastic to me. It sounds very science fiction; it sounds over the top."

A pandemic could last from a few days to several months, she said. "But the life of the Church just can't stop for a year."

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