With 17 new cases, swine flu tally reaches 311 in Lucknow

LUCKNOW: Greet like an Indian to keep swine flu away. That's the advisory issued by the district health office after a review of the swine flu situation in the state capital on Saturday.
Meanwhile, 17 new cases including that of an infant and three children, took the H1N1 tally for the city to 311 for this year.
"Avoid handshakes with people to check spread of swine flu," said Dr Narendra Agarwal, adding that the swine flu virus spreads through human contact quickly.
The World Health Organisation also recommends the same as a person who shakes hands with, hugs or kisses a person carrying the virus is bound to get the infection on touching one's eyes or nose or eating before sanitising hands.
"Handshakes and kisses must be avoided in particular. Viruses spread though aerosol particles that accumulate on hands and face while coughing or sneezing. This is why we recommend frequent hand-washing," said Dr KP Tripathi, nodal officer for H1N1 in Lucknow.
Special precaution is needed when one is going to see a person down with fever or cough. "One should maintain distance of at least 3 feet or 1 metre from the ailing person," says the advisory.