We direct your attention to the attached letter, which is also provided
below in plain text (ASCII), from the National Spiritual Assembly
providing some helpful resources that may reduce the spread and adverse
impact of the flu on your community.
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September 15, 2009
To all Local Spiritual Assemblies and Registered Bahá'í Groups
Dear Bahá'í Friends,
In June, we wrote to you regarding the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of a global H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic. Because of the approach of the fall flu season, we hasten to share with you once again some helpful resources for individual, family and community preparedness, which may help to reduce the spread and adverse impact of the flu on our community.
The WHO pandemic declaration was based on sustained worldwide spread of H1N1, not the severity of illness caused by the virus. According to the WHO announcement, the pandemic is of moderate severity, and the overwhelming majority of patients experience only mild symptoms and make a rapid and full recovery-often in the absence of any form of medical treatment. However, infants, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions are at risk of severe illness, and populations of young adults have also been affected.
Bahá'í individuals, families, and communities can take this time to educate themselves about the flu pandemic and be prepared to take certain preventive and precautionary measures in response to possible local outbreaks. Some pointers and helpful links are:
For individuals and families: * Read and share with family members the information on this site: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/health/index.html. This includes tips for staying healthy, symptoms and when to get medical help, and tips for providing home care for a sick person. * Review the family preparedness checklist:
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/index.html
For Local Spiritual Assemblies: * Share the above links with members of your community. The information may be shared at the Nineteen Day Feast or through community list-serves or newsletters. Please ensure that those with special language needs (Spanish or Persian, for example) also receive the information.
* Make efforts to monitor the needs of the elderly or other members of the community who may have special needs.
* Review the preparedness checklist for faith-based and community organizations: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/community/faithcomchecklist.html * Locate sources of state and local updates regarding the flu: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/states/index.html. If specific state or local alerts are issued, Assemblies should be prepared to implement policies to temporarily reduce social contact among Bahá'ís-for example, by postponing Feasts, core activities, and other events that bring large numbers of people together.
We share this information with deep and abiding concern for the health and well-being of every one of our dearly-loved coworkers in the community of the Greatest Name.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
Kenneth E. Bowers Secretary-General
==========================================================================
September 15, 2009
To all Local Spiritual Assemblies and Registered Bahá'í Groups
Dear Bahá'í Friends,
In June, we wrote to you regarding the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of a global H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic. Because of the approach of the fall flu season, we hasten to share with you once again some helpful resources for individual, family and community preparedness, which may help to reduce the spread and adverse impact of the flu on our community.
The WHO pandemic declaration was based on sustained worldwide spread of H1N1, not the severity of illness caused by the virus. According to the WHO announcement, the pandemic is of moderate severity, and the overwhelming majority of patients experience only mild symptoms and make a rapid and full recovery-often in the absence of any form of medical treatment. However, infants, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions are at risk of severe illness, and populations of young adults have also been affected.
Bahá'í individuals, families, and communities can take this time to educate themselves about the flu pandemic and be prepared to take certain preventive and precautionary measures in response to possible local outbreaks. Some pointers and helpful links are:
For individuals and families: * Read and share with family members the information on this site: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/health/index.html. This includes tips for staying healthy, symptoms and when to get medical help, and tips for providing home care for a sick person. * Review the family preparedness checklist:
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/index.html
For Local Spiritual Assemblies: * Share the above links with members of your community. The information may be shared at the Nineteen Day Feast or through community list-serves or newsletters. Please ensure that those with special language needs (Spanish or Persian, for example) also receive the information.
* Make efforts to monitor the needs of the elderly or other members of the community who may have special needs.
* Review the preparedness checklist for faith-based and community organizations: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/community/faithcomchecklist.html * Locate sources of state and local updates regarding the flu: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/states/index.html. If specific state or local alerts are issued, Assemblies should be prepared to implement policies to temporarily reduce social contact among Bahá'ís-for example, by postponing Feasts, core activities, and other events that bring large numbers of people together.
We share this information with deep and abiding concern for the health and well-being of every one of our dearly-loved coworkers in the community of the Greatest Name.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
Kenneth E. Bowers Secretary-General
