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Mexico shuts many govt offices, businesses

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-30 10:44

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's government is temporarily suspending all nonessential activity of the federal government and private business as the number of confirmed swine flu cases jumped.

Full Coverage:  Swine Flu Outbreak Related readings:  WHO warns swine flu threatening to become pandemic  Mexican soccer fans banned in swine flu alert  US reports one flu death, WHO mulls alert level  WHO: Total number of confirmed swine flu cases rises to 114

Health Secretary Jose Cordova says nonessential federal government offices will be closed from May 1-5. He said all nonessential private businesses must also close for that period but essential services like transport, supermarkets, trash collection, hospital will remain open.

Treasury Secretary Agustin Carstens says the flu epidemic may cost the economy between 0.3 and 0.5 percent of GDP.

So far seven deaths have been confirmed in Mexico -- the epicenter of the current outbreak -- although Mexican officials have said the new multi-strain virus is suspected in 159 deaths. More than 1,300 people are also in hospital with flu symptoms, of which 49 are confirmed cases of swine flu.

The United States has the next largest number of confirmed cases -- 91 spread across 10 states -- and a Mexican toddler became the first person outside Mexico to die from the disease while visiting relatives in Texas.