Mass peace greetings shall be carried out with a reverence due to H1N1

H1N1 influenza

After a few but steady number of victims who have died from the influenza H1N1, Bishop Monsignor Julio Parrilla, Riobamba, recommended that the greeting of peace, during the mass, be carried out with a reverence and during the communion they can receive the sacrament in their hand, as it usually happens in communion.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that the number of victims is 6 andthere are 91 affected patients registered in the country.

The pastor of Quimiag (Riobamba), Gabriel Barriga, added that the church only has suggested a different greeting. “To reduce chances of catching flu, especially H1N1, instead of using traditional forms like the kiss, hug or handshake, you can greet in this way.”

In Manabi, Archbishop Lorenzo Voltolini, recommended to all religious to take preventive measures against influenza, after learning that the first dead victim of H1N1 in the province.

Because the H1N1 flu outbreak is spreading through the provinces of Ecuador, the Ministry of Health closed 50 pharmaceutical stores in the provinces of Azuay, Cotopaxi, Guayas, Manabi and Pichincha for selling anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-flu medicines without prescription.

This measure was intended to control the outbreak since it was mandated by the State Ministry that those medicines should be sold only with a precription in pharmacies, and supermarkets. This temporary measure intended to avoid self-medication and complications in the clinical picture of the people affected by H1N1 influenza.