Politicians' handshakes banned over swine flu fears
JAPANESE election candidates have been cutting back on handshakes on the campaign trail as the swine flu virus reaches epidemic proportions in Japan.
The country has confirmed three deaths from the virus, and the health minister said a rise in cases meant the flu had spread more than expected.
With little more than a week to go until the election his opposition Democratic Party looks likely to win, candidate Denny Tamaki is playing it safe.
"Shaking hands during an election campaign is key, so this is pretty troubling," Tamaki said. "It would be bad if I get infected myself and then pass it on to older people with weaker immune systems."
Fellow Democratic Party candidate Katsuhito Yokokume took a break from campaigning a few days ago after showing flu symptoms, media reported.
When he resumed, he pledged: "We'll make sure not to give speeches so close that the audience might get hit with spittle."
Makiko Fujino, a ruling party candidate in Nagoya, where an 81-year-old woman died from the new flu, brought disinfectant to her rallies. "I watched the news and thought some people might be worried, so I brought some along," she said.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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