Mexico City authorities yesterday admitted they might have to “shut down” Mexico's sprawling capital in an effort to combat an outbreak of swine flu that has so far claimed the lives of up to 149 people, according to official reports.
Marcelo Ebrard, the city's mayor, said yesterday morning that the next step in trying to quarantine the virus, a hybrid of human and animal influenza strains that scientists have never seen, could be shutting down the public transport network.
He was also set to meet private-sector leaders over limiting the working day. At the weekend, one of Mexico's leading business councils, which represents private-sector companies, agreed to stagger factory shifts to reduce the number of people in closed spaces.