US Mosques Lead Swine Flu Campaign

By Muhammed Qasim, IOL Correspondent

"We have to make sure that all preventions are in place to contain the disease if there is any outbreak," Dr. Omeish, a surgeon and imam, told IOL.WASHINGTON – American Muslims are leaving no stone unturned in increasing their community's awareness about the swine flu virus that has been registered in several America states and is spreading globally.
"I think when we are facing challenges such as the health challenge of a pandemic, swine flu, that can become a very serious problem, we need to first brace ourselves and recognize [the problem]," Dr. Esam S. Omeish, a surgeon by profession, old IslamOnline.net.
Omeish, also the imam of Dar Al-Hijra Islamic Center, devoted his Friday sermon mainly to talk about pandemics.
"We have to make sure that all preventions are in place to contain the disease if there is any outbreak," he said.
Swine Flu…Beware, Be Safe (Special page)
Flu Epidemics: How Do They Happen? (Falsh)
All You Need to Know About Swine Flu "We need to make sure the treatment of those who are affected.
"So far Alhamdullah we have been able to contain the magnitude of the problem."
The United States is the second country to have a confirmed swine flu death.
American health officials on Friday, May 1, said the number of confirmed swine flu cased had risen to 143, spread across 20 states.
Two cases were reported in the south-eastern state of Florida on Friday.
Only one person has so far died from catching the virus: a Mexican toddler who was visiting relatives in Texas.
President Barack Obama has declared a national emergency, which means putting the facilities and resources together to ensure a rapid and swift response to any outbreak.
The administration will spend $251 million to buy 13 million more courses of flu medicine.
"That’s the kind of leadership we want and that’s the kind of response which is necessary to minimize human loss and human sufferings," said Omeish.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned last week that a global swine flu pandemic was imminent.
The new flu strain, a mixture of various swine, bird and human viruses, poses the biggest risk of a large-scale pandemic since avian flu surfaced in 1997.
Tips
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on religious leaders and imams to use daily and Friday congregational prayers as a platform for providing information about preventing the spread of swine flu.
"In times of crisis, public health and safety takes precedence over normal actions and activities that could lead to the spread of infection," CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad told IOL.
"Imams, because of their access to those attending mosques every day, are well-placed to offer advice to community members based on input from public health authorities."
The prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy group wants imams, who lead daily and weekly congregational prayers in more than 2,000 mosques nationwide, to stay up-to-date on the spread of swine flu in their areas.
It stresses the possibility of temporarily avoiding cultural traditions such as handshakes, hugs and kisses during the health crisis.
Dr. Zubair Saeed, a pandemic influenza educator at Fairfax County Virginia, is delivering lectures on swine flu at different mosques.
"What we going to do, is to emphasis the message of keeping the hands clean, cover our coughs and sneezing and wash our hands again and again after coughing or sneezing," he told IOL.
"The main message is that we can’t stop pandemic from occurring, it’s going to happen whether it’s this particular virus or any other. What we can do is try to contain it as much as possible," he explained.
"We should be very much vigilant of the symptoms which include fever, coughing, sneezing, sour throat, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea and must contact any health care provider as soon as possible," Dr. Saeed advises.
"The most important thing is to stay home if someone has this problem."
Larger Community
CAIR, in consultation with Muslim scholars, is suggesting that imams and mosque officials consider taking preventive actions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) when swine flu is confirmed in a community.
This includes strongly encouraging worshipers who develop flu-like symptoms to seek medical advice by phone and to self-isolate themselves in their homes.
Cancellation of classes in Islamic schools should also be considered if there is a confirmed or a suspected case of swine flu in the school population.
Gatherings at mosques, even the otherwise-mandatory Friday prayers, should be temporarily cancelled if there is a risk of spreading infection.
"As Muslims are members of a greater society, we need to be in the forefront," insists Dr. Omeish, the surgeon and imam of Dar Al-Hijra Islamic Center.
"We need to be reminded of the role of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to be in the forefront of helping others who may be affected by such calamities."
He said all parties should join hands in addressing such a health crisis.
By Muhammed Qasim, IOL Correspondent

"We have to make sure that all preventions are in place to contain the disease if there is any outbreak," Dr. Omeish, a surgeon and imam, told IOL.WASHINGTON – American Muslims are leaving no stone unturned in increasing their community's awareness about the swine flu virus that has been registered in several America states and is spreading globally.
"I think when we are facing challenges such as the health challenge of a pandemic, swine flu, that can become a very serious problem, we need to first brace ourselves and recognize [the problem]," Dr. Esam S. Omeish, a surgeon by profession, old IslamOnline.net.
Omeish, also the imam of Dar Al-Hijra Islamic Center, devoted his Friday sermon mainly to talk about pandemics.
"We have to make sure that all preventions are in place to contain the disease if there is any outbreak," he said.
Swine Flu…Beware, Be Safe (Special page)
Flu Epidemics: How Do They Happen? (Falsh)
All You Need to Know About Swine Flu "We need to make sure the treatment of those who are affected.
"So far Alhamdullah we have been able to contain the magnitude of the problem."
The United States is the second country to have a confirmed swine flu death.
American health officials on Friday, May 1, said the number of confirmed swine flu cased had risen to 143, spread across 20 states.
Two cases were reported in the south-eastern state of Florida on Friday.
Only one person has so far died from catching the virus: a Mexican toddler who was visiting relatives in Texas.
President Barack Obama has declared a national emergency, which means putting the facilities and resources together to ensure a rapid and swift response to any outbreak.
The administration will spend $251 million to buy 13 million more courses of flu medicine.
"That’s the kind of leadership we want and that’s the kind of response which is necessary to minimize human loss and human sufferings," said Omeish.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned last week that a global swine flu pandemic was imminent.
The new flu strain, a mixture of various swine, bird and human viruses, poses the biggest risk of a large-scale pandemic since avian flu surfaced in 1997.
Tips
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on religious leaders and imams to use daily and Friday congregational prayers as a platform for providing information about preventing the spread of swine flu.
"In times of crisis, public health and safety takes precedence over normal actions and activities that could lead to the spread of infection," CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad told IOL.
"Imams, because of their access to those attending mosques every day, are well-placed to offer advice to community members based on input from public health authorities."
The prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy group wants imams, who lead daily and weekly congregational prayers in more than 2,000 mosques nationwide, to stay up-to-date on the spread of swine flu in their areas.
It stresses the possibility of temporarily avoiding cultural traditions such as handshakes, hugs and kisses during the health crisis.
Dr. Zubair Saeed, a pandemic influenza educator at Fairfax County Virginia, is delivering lectures on swine flu at different mosques.
"What we going to do, is to emphasis the message of keeping the hands clean, cover our coughs and sneezing and wash our hands again and again after coughing or sneezing," he told IOL.
"The main message is that we can’t stop pandemic from occurring, it’s going to happen whether it’s this particular virus or any other. What we can do is try to contain it as much as possible," he explained.
"We should be very much vigilant of the symptoms which include fever, coughing, sneezing, sour throat, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea and must contact any health care provider as soon as possible," Dr. Saeed advises.
"The most important thing is to stay home if someone has this problem."
Larger Community
CAIR, in consultation with Muslim scholars, is suggesting that imams and mosque officials consider taking preventive actions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) when swine flu is confirmed in a community.
This includes strongly encouraging worshipers who develop flu-like symptoms to seek medical advice by phone and to self-isolate themselves in their homes.
Cancellation of classes in Islamic schools should also be considered if there is a confirmed or a suspected case of swine flu in the school population.
Gatherings at mosques, even the otherwise-mandatory Friday prayers, should be temporarily cancelled if there is a risk of spreading infection.
"As Muslims are members of a greater society, we need to be in the forefront," insists Dr. Omeish, the surgeon and imam of Dar Al-Hijra Islamic Center.
"We need to be reminded of the role of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to be in the forefront of helping others who may be affected by such calamities."
He said all parties should join hands in addressing such a health crisis.