UK: Swine flu may halt communion in Lancashire

by Anne Thomas
Thursday, April 30, 2009

Health Secretary Alan Johnson has announced plans to buy more antiviral drugs and face masks to combat swine flu in the UK. The UK currently has enough Tamiflu and Relenza to cover 33 million people.(PA)

Catholic priests in the Diocese of Lancashire have been advised that they may need to stop providing Holy Communion and giving Mass as the World Health Organisation warns of an "imminent" swine flu epidemic.

Priests have also been advised to wear surgical masks and gloves when visiting the sick and to take care when using service books and sacred oils to stop the spread the virus, reports the Lancashire Evening Post. the rest