Local television stations have begun running public-service advertisements urging people to wash their hands and to wear masks if they suffer flu-like symptoms.

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The best way to avoid infection is to make sure you wear gloves when gardening or changing your cat's litter tray, wash fruit and vegetables before eating and cook meat thoroughly - although it is possible to still enjoy it rare, says the Food Standards Agency.

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Patients who are ill should be asked to wear a surgical mask to contain their secretions, he says, and they should use tissues and wash their hands frequently to prevent touch contamination.

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