Catholic leaders issue advisory on flu precautions

Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Boston and Springfield issued advisories to parishioners in recent weeks telling them that if they have the flu or a cold, they should forgo a handshake of fellowship as well as sipping from the Communion cup during Mass.

Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield went even further, suggesting that parishioners who are sick for any reason ''can excuse themselves from Sunday worship out of respect for their fellow worshipers."

The recommendations were made amid an unprecedented shortage of influenza vaccine caused by contamination in a British manufacturing plant that had been expected to provide nearly half of this year's shots in the United States. In Massachusetts, the state's public health commissioner has restricted flu vaccinations to the elderly over the age of 75, children between the ages of 6 months and 23 months, and patients with severe chronic illness.

Infectious-disease specialists hailed the church advisories, saying that the suggested actions could help prevent the spread of illness, especially among older Catholics who are among the most observant churchgoers.

''People do go to church with colds and respiratory infections, and some older people particularly do feel compelled to go," said Dr. Alfred DeMaria, director of communicable disease control for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. ''So I think it's good for the bishops to speak."

As a sign of fellowship and peace, Catholics routinely exchange a handshake during Mass, and Communion consists of both a wafer and wine sipped from a chalice. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has periodically issued recommendations on how to prevent disease transmission, urging the ill to avoid drinking from the Communion cup if they fear they could spread illness to other worshipers. But the latest guidance from the Massachusetts dioceses reflects the increased level of concern this flu season.

Kelly Lynch, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Boston, said the advisories were in part a response to inquiries from parishioners about the wisdom of shaking hands and drinking from the Communion cup during the flu season.

Common sense, the advisory from the Boston Archdiocese said, ''should reign supreme" when ill church-goers consider whether they should drink from the Communion cup.

''If one is sick," the advisory said, ''one should not receive from the cup."

The advisory, sent earlier this month to individual parishes and placed in weekly church bulletins, tells the diocese's nearly 2.1 million parishioners that ''if a person knows that they have the cold or flu and attend the celebration, for the good of others, it would be better not to shake hands, but rather choose another suitable gesture."

Among alternative greetings, the advisory suggest a nodding of the head or a verbal expression.

Dr. Michael Worthington, infectious disease chief at Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton, said the recommendation regarding the sign of peace makes especially good sense because researchers know that the viruses that cause flu and colds are frequently transmitted through such hand-to-hand exchanges.

''This is a good idea to say we want the same genuine expression of Christian spirit but that doesn't mean you have to shake hands to have that expression," Worthington said. ''It makes sense to do things to protect the common health and common good."

The Diocese of Springfield acted last week after doctors called with concerns about the potential for flu and cold viruses to migrate among church-goers, said diocesan spokesman Mark E. Dupont.

Bishop McDonnell's recommendations for his flock of 236,000 largely reflected those issued by the Boston Archdiocese but added the advice regarding Mass attendance, an issue raised by a physician. ''That doctor was concerned that some Catholics, especially some of the older Catholics, are so faithful that unless they heard from the bishop, they would be reluctant to excuse themselves from Mass," Dupont said.

The Springfield diocesan spokesman said he could not recall another instance when the diocese had issued such an advisory. Physicians in state and city infectious-disease branches said they were not aware of other faiths issuing similar advisories.

Dr. Anita Barry, director of communicable disease control for the Boston Public Health Commission, commended the efforts of the diocesan authorities but cautioned that people can be infectious before symptoms develop and that they should take that into account when deciding whether to drink from the Communion cup.

Disease specialists typically discourage the sharing of drinking cups as a way to forestall transmission of cold and flu viruses.

''These guidelines go a long way in providing some very, very good advice," Barry said. ''But people should be aware that just because someone feels well is not assurance that there won't be transmission through a common cup."

Stephen Smith can be reached at stsmith@globe.com.