Mexico begins 5-day shutdown to curb virus

I / Mexico City May 2, 2009, 9:48 IST

Mexico raised its confirmed swine flu death toll from 15 to 16, adding that the total number of confirmed cases of the virus had risen to 397.      

National Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova announced the new numbers late yesterday but insisted measures taken by the government to prevent large public gatherings are having an impact in controlling the outbreak.      

"The mortality rate isn't as great as could be expected," Cordova said. He said the latest fatality was a woman but released no other details on the case.      

Mexico City's streets, normally filled on Labor Day with throngs of celebrating workers, were eerily quiet as Mexicans began a forced five-day holiday to curb the spread of swine flu. It included near-total closures of government and private activity. Only essential services such as hospitals and supermarkets were open.      

May Day is normally a raucous day in Mexico City as the Paseo de la Reforma boulevard fills with hundreds of thousands of boisterous marchers headed to the central Zocalo square. On Friday, a few tourists wandered down its broad sidewalks, lined with shuttered shops, banks and office towers.      

"I'm going crazy in my house with this confinement," said retiree Rocio Lara. "There is nowhere to go, nowhere to spend your time."      

Those seeking a quick escape from the capital of 20 million were warned not to come to Acapulco — and in a few cases residents threw stones at cars with Mexico City licence plates.