(Swine flu: Avoid crowded…) With reports of nearly 500 cases of
swine flu from across the country this season, doctors and
experts say the viral disease sees an upswing during winters but
there is no need to panic. Closed and crowded spaces such as
offices and air-conditioned homes aided the spread of the
disease, say doctors. According to doctors, though H1N1 flu
cases peak during this season, infection can be avoided by
taking simple precautions such as washing hands frequently,
wearing masks and avoiding closed and crowded places. Swine flu
is a common occurrence in countries with extreme cold weather
such as the United States and parts of Europe, said Randeep
Guleria, head, Department of Pulomonary Medicine, All India
Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). "The only difference is
that while cases of swine flu peak in other parts of the world
during winter, in India, there are two outbreaks -- one in
winter and one in monsoon, specially in South India," Guleria
told us. According to the health ministry, th