New Delhi, Aug 12 - This Janmashtami, avoid crowded places in the interest of safety. Health officials Wednesday advised this in view the contagious nature of the swine flu virus that has killed 17 people and infected over 1,000.

'Avoid crowds. During Janmashtami crowds will be there and the disease spread in crowds,' Health Ministry Joint Secretary Vineet Chawdhry told reporters here.

Janmashtami is the birthday of Hindu god Krishna and will be celebrated in India Friday.

'What can the government do? People have to take their own decisions. We have already issued do's and don'ts. They have to implement it. People have to take social distancing measures,' he added, reiterating the need to avoid crowded places.

'There is no need for schools, colleges and bazars to be shut down,' he said, referring to the Maharashtra government's decision to close down educational institutions and public places for a week to contain the spread of swine flu.