Swine flu creating 'social distancing'?

LONDON, May 3 (UPI) -- The swine flu epidemic may cut down on physical displays of friendship, with less hugging, kissing and even hand-shaking around the world, health officials say.

The Mexican Ministry of Health has already advised residents to keep their distance from each other, CNN reports. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the network's chief medical correspondent, advocates bumping elbows as a substitute, although he acknowledged on Twitter it is "not as cool as the fist bump."

At London's Fleet Street Travel Clinic, Dr. Richard Dawood sees a trend to "social distancing."

"People don't want to get too close. There is going to be a move towards less handshaking, less greeting people with a kiss," he told CNN. "There may well end up being fewer meetings."

In Lebanon, where people traditionally greet each other with three kisses, the health minister recommends less physical methods -- even though the disease has not shown up in Lebanon.