Mexico: Shutting Down the Country

Mexican officials will enforce a closure of government, economic and public activity from May 1 to May 5 as a measure to limit the spread of the swine flu. The government has issued unclear guidelines for the shutdown and has said that only nonessential businesses should close. Mexico's economy was struggling before the emergence of the A(H1N1) flu, but the shutdown might not have serious consequences typically expected of an event of this magnitude.