Mumbai swine flu shutdown begins

(August 13, 2009) Public concern over swine flu is on the rise in India. Schools, colleges and cinemas in the Indian city of Mumbai have temporarily closed in a bid to limit the spread of the H1N1 virus. Schools and colleges will remain Closed for a week and cinemas for three days. The city, India's commercial capital, is in Maharashtra state, which has seen 11 of India's 19 swine flu deaths - three in Mumbai alone. Authorities say that public pressure led them to order the closures, but stressed that people should not panic. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan told a television channel that the temporary closure was "only a prevention measure. There is no panic...we are going according to the wishes of the people and that is why we are shutting down for about seven days," he said. Three of the seven days are holidays, including the weekend, so the shutdown is effectively for less than a week, Mr Chavan said. A number of Bollywood film releases on Friday have been delayed after cinemas in the capital of the country's booming film industry shut their doors. A total of 19 people have died of swine flu in seven cities in India, authorities say. The Diocese of Pune closed its schools for a week and postponed several programs as swine flu spread throughout the western Indian city. The swine flu (H1N1) virus first emerged in Mexico in April and has since spread to at least 74 countries. Official reports say there have been nearly 30,000 cases globally and 141 deaths, with figures rising daily. Most of India's confirmed cases of swine flu have been among people who have returned from overseas travel.