By Thameen Kheetan

AMMAN - The arrival of swine flu in Jordan has sparked a debate over several social habits that could aid the transmission of the disease along with other health hazards, according to intellectuals and tribal leaders.

Hugging, kissing, eating mansaf by hand and sharing Arabic coffee are among customs they urged Jordanians to cease in order to curb possible transmission of swine flu, of which there have been nine confirmed cases in the Kingdom since Monday.

The H1N1 viral disease has killed around 170 people out of several thousands infected around the world since it was first reported in Mexico in April.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the means of transmission for H1N1 are similar to those of seasonal flu.

The disease can be transmitted among humans "through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the flu virus", the organisation’s website stated.

"People may become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouths or noses," the WHO added.

Unhealthy practices

In light of the arrival of H1N1 in Jordan, Al Arab Al Yawm daily Chief Editor Taher Odwan wrote a column encouraging people to "suspend" some social habits, such as enjoying the country's traditional dish, mansaf, by hand and offering Arabic coffee to several guests with the same cup.

Mansaf, a meal composed of rice, bread, meat, yoghurt, almonds and pine nuts, is traditionally eaten by hand from a communal circular dish. Citizens usually offer Arabic coffee at the beginning of banquets, feasts, weddings and in condolence homes.

"Having lots of hands in the mansaf, in addition to pouring jameed [liquefied yoghurt], will make avoiding the epidemic's transmission more difficult," Odwan wrote on Monday.

"There is a clear trend now to stop these traditions," the writer told The Jordan Times in an interview yesterday.

He explained that during social events, he tries to abide by certain measures, such as avoiding hugging or kissing others, but does not always succeed.

"Someone often rushes towards you, grabs you and hugs you by force as a sign of love,” Odwan noted.

Al Ghad columnist Basma Nsour said she employs different tactics to avoid such greetings and sometimes tells relatives she is sick in order to avoid their kisses.

She noted, however, that "embarrassment" often forces her to exchange complimentary kisses and hugs.

Change of habits

Nsour stressed that the epidemic is an opportunity to convince Jordanians of changing many traditional customs.

She explained that although citizens may not believe in the need for different habits, fear of the disease can make them change their ways.

Calls to change Jordanian customs are not new, however.

In 1981, tribes in the city of Salt, northwest of Amman, signed a pact in an attempt to change certain traditions to lessen financial burdens emerging from ceremonial expenditures.

A new edition of the Salt Pact was published last year in order to revive the initiative, as people did not abide by the original instructions.

Still, many residents in the city continue to ignore the pact, according to Salt Mayor Salameh Hiyari.

"Imagine how many kisses those who host a ceremony receive… they will suffer," he told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday, highlighting the role of “the elite” to promote newer, "more civilised," customs.

Hiyari stressed that unwanted habits can be eliminated over time, citing the offering of cigarettes in condolence homes, a practice which he said ended “a long time ago”.

"It is a matter of time, people will get used to better traditions," the mayor added.

Barjes Hadid, a Central Badia tribal leader and former MP, agreed.

He recommended smaller public and social gatherings such as weddings to prevent the spread of the disease.

When serving Arabic coffee, hosts should wash cups after each guest, and not offer coffee to several people from the same cup, he said.

Admitting that "one cannot annul mansaf as a tradition", Hadid suggested eating the traditional dish with spoons.

"We need to be prudent," he told The Jordan Times.

But for many in the Kingdom such as 75-year-old Salt resident Ahmad Arabiyat, it is "impossible" to change traditions carried down through generations.

"If it is not eaten by hand, mansaf is not delicious," he told The Jordan Times.