Wedding-goers being tested for swine flu at the gate could be the latest trend sweeping Bahrain.

A wedding planner has taken the initiative to hire nurses to check the temperatures of guests as they arrive.

Ali Khalfan, who is also a school financial director, said he got the idea when he saw students being tested after returning from their summer holidays.

He claimed that thanks to his service, three separate cases were discovered at three weddings.

Nervous

The Musicana Wedding Planners general manager said he added the service because many guests were nervous of catching swine flu as they have to greet hundreds of relatives and guests.

'I saw sanitisers being distributed to students and dispensers installed in schools' hallways,' said the Al A'ali Elementary Boys School financial director.

'Also, students and teachers were getting their temperatures checked.

'I thought why not implement this at weddings, where people also mingle in a closed area.'

Khalfan said since he advertised the new service he has started receiving numerous calls.

'Since publishing the advertisement, people have called to ask about it,' he said, adding that so far five nurses have been recruited and each given a Thermo Flash thermometer, which can take temperatures without any physical contact.

For a wedding that has less than 500 guests, one nurse is assigned to check their temperatures before they enter the hall.

'More than 500 guests will require more nurses,' said Khalfan.

The service per nurse costs wedding holders BD70, which he said was nothing compared to the hundreds spent to plan a wedding.

'A typical wedding costs around BD1,000 or more for the food, DJ, flowers and table arrangements,' he said.

'BD70 is nothing compared to this amount and it's only to protect guests from getting the virus.'

Khalfan said the fact that people were keen to get this service meant that the protection of their guests against swine flu was a priority.

'Wedding holders want their guests to enjoy their time and not worry whether they might get sick or not.

'Three guests tested positive in three different weddings we planned. That shows how beneficial this service is.'

Some guests refuse to be tested and in such cases the host decides what should be done, said Khalfan.

'If they refuse to be tested, we contact the host to instruct us whether to let them in,' he said.

A number of wedding hall managers said they were not facing much problems regarding a swine flu outbreak.

'We have four halls dedicated to wedding celebrations,' said Marmaris Wedding halls supervisor, who wished to be identified only as Ali.

'The number of bookings compared to last year hasn't changed.

'We get 80 to 100 wedding bookings every month expect during Muharram, Safar and Ramadan.'

Al Bander Hotel and Resort assistant general manager Ahmed Mukhtar said the resort's hall was always busy.

'So far we haven't faced any problems with bookings for any reason,' he said.

InterContinental Regency Bahrain public relations manager Ryan Advincula said wedding booking numbers did not change compared to previous years.

'We haven't noticed any change when it comes to wedding bookings or attendance,' he said.

Meanwhile, Health Ministry public health director Dr Khairya Moosa said the trend was 'impractical'.

'This is not a way to deal with the situation at hand,' she said.

'If someone has flu-like symptoms, he/she should stay at home, not attend a wedding.'

Dr Moosa said raising awareness was key in this situation to encourage people to take the matter seriously.

'If anyone has flu-like symptoms, he/she should seek medical advice,' she said.

Disease Control section chief and public health acting director Dr Mona Al Mousawi said the ministry's main role was to give general guidelines on how to tackle the virus.

'People have the freedom to do whatever they think is right to protect themselves, as long as it is not harmful,' she said.

Dr Al Mousawi said if people choose to get a nurse to test guests' temperatures, it was their choice.

'Some even put posters at weddings that say hugging is not preferred to keep swine flu at bay,' she said.-TradeArabia News Service