$3bn loan to help fight crisis as country shuts down

MEXICO was approved for $3 billion (€2.26bn) in international loans to fight the swine flu crisis, as the country began a five-day shutdown yesterday to try to halt the spread of the virus.

As nations worldwide stepped up safety measures following a World Health Organisation warning that a global pandemic may be imminent, Mexican officials said the rapid spread of the H1N1 virus could be slowing.

They said 12 people were confirmed dead and 300 people were infected with the virus, but health minister Jose Angel Cordova was hopeful the worst might be over.