The precautions are based on medical advice.
A Catholic Church diocese in Northern Ireland has suspended mass-goers from partaking in the "sign of peace" due to the recent surge in flu cases in the community.
The Diocese of Down and Connor has also advised priests to disinfect their hands before they distribute Holy Communion to the congregation. The "sign of peace" is a handshake that everyone who attends the mass partakes in as an act of good faith. Everyone shakes the hands of those around them in an established part of the sermon. However, shaking hands with many people at once during a flu epidemic may cause more harm than good as the virus can spread easily via handshake. At present, the diocese of Down and Connor has suspended the handshakes. For a short time also, the diocese has also suspended the distributing of the wine - representing the blood of Christ - as it is done from a shared chalice. Parishioners who think they may have flu have been asked to stay away from Mass. Under 10 people have died in Ireland so far this year due to Aussie flu, but it's understood that 48 people have died in Australia due to the virus. Normal flu symptoms to be looked out for are a sudden fever, aches, exhaustion, a dry chesty cough, headaches, sore throats, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and trouble sleeping. Symptoms for Aussie flu are generally the same but far more severe, with children generally experiencing extreme ear pain.
