Toronto, Aug 20 - A Canadian mayor in Quebec province has banned handshakes to check the spread of the H1N1 virus that causes swine flu.

Since its outbreak in April, the swine flu has claimed 66 lives in Canada, including 21 in French-speaking Quebec province.

Though the virus has more or less been contained, health authorities have warned people to be ready for another deadly outbreak in winter.

But the mayor of L'Ancienne-Lorette city, just outside the capital of Quebec, is taking the threat rather seriously since the province goes to civic elections Nov 1.

Fearing that handshakes during the campaign will spread the virus, Mayor Emile Loranger has decided to ban this social custom, local media reports say.

'On the campaign trail, you meet tons of people every day. By avoiding shaking hands, we want to protect the health of our citizens,'' Loranger has been quoted as saying.

'We have to look beyond politics.