In 5 quick steps. With the H1N1 swine flu virus making a comeback this monsoon, here's an easy-does-it guide to staying safe

It's not easy to erase the memory of the pandemonium caused by H1N1 swine flu last year. Suddenly surgical masks became a necessity. Every sneeze and cough made your heart sink.

Here's the bad news: The virus strikes again. Latest PTI reports indicate, more than 108 people have tested positive for the swine flu virus and seven people have succumbed to it as of June 1.

N95 masks can keep you disinfected

"The possibility of the H1N1 virus cropping up again does exist as the climate conditions are conducive for the virus to thrive.
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In the monsoon, the drop in temperature helps the virus thrive better than during warm weather," says Dr Shalini Suralkar, General Practitioner, Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital. She suggests a five-point plan comprising precautionary measures to prevent getting infected by the swine flu virus:

Keep your hands clean
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water. The H1N1 virus is a form of influenza that spreads when people cough, sneeze and exhale the germs, which you can pick up on your hands. Always keep a hand
sanitiser in your bag. But make sure it's a trusted brand, and definitely not on the verge of expiry.