Those planning trips abroad are suddenly having a rethink. And it's not because of the recession.

What?s got travellers, those travelling for business and pleasure, panicked is the fact that swine flu aka H1N1 is spreading across the West.

Still wondering if you should go on your tip? Consider this:

Travel restrictions

In its latest travel advisory dated April 28, the World Health Organisation (WHO) ?does not recommend restricting international travel,? yet it has sounded the alarm, and said it?s too late to contain the H1N1 virus.

The Ministry of Health also wants Indians travelling to affected countries - Mexico, the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Spain and France ? to err on the side of caution and defer ?non-essential? travel.

But if you must travel...

• Wash your hands often.
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• Consult with doctor before travelling, especially if you?re unwell.
• In foreign countries, don?t get too close to the livestock.

Feeling sick?

It?s always smart to be prepared, so know what to look for if you think a co-passenger has the flu. Look for this:

Fever; coughing; difficulty in breathing; lethargy; loss of appetite; a runny nose; sore throat; vomiting; and siarrhoea

Alert the crew immediately!

What else can you do:

• Move the sick passenger to an isolated area.
• Don?t use the same loo as the infected passenger.
• To contain contamination, ask the passenger to wear a mask.
• Store all soiled items such as tissues, pillows, blankets, blankets etc in a special bag.