Mumbai shuts schools, cinemas over H1N1 scare

[Coventina]

Source: CNN

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Schools, colleges and cinema halls in India's commercial capital of Mumbai have been ordered to shut over a mounting H1N1 scare, officials said Wednesday.

All educational institutions, including private coaching centers, have been asked to stay closed for a week from Thursday, said Prajakata Lavangare, a spokeswoman for the government of Maharashtra state.

Theaters will remain shut for three days, she said.

The order came in the wake of a similar move for the district of Pune, also in Maharashtra, which has been worst-hit by the pandemic.

Up through Tuesday, India had reported nine deaths from the virus.

Federal health officials reported that 1,078 people of 5,000 tested so far have been found positive for H1N1.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/13/india.h1n1/

[robcon]

1. Silly. H1N1is less serious/less lethal than most flu viruses.

I think the reactions and hype have gotten out of hand.