Swine Flu in India, Swine Flu Mumbai, Swine Flu Pandemic, Swine Flu Epidemic, Mumbai closes all Schools Fearing Spread of Swine Flu

The Indian authorities on Wednesday ordered the closure for one week in every school in Mumbai, the country's economic capital, fearing a spread of swine flu.

Some 15 people died from influenza A (H1N1), four of them in Pune (Maharashtra state), 120 km from Mumbai. So far in the country have more than 1,000 confirmed cases, said the agency Press Trust of India.

"The government has decided to close schools throughout the city for a week from Thursday," a government portvoz that state, whose capital is Mumbai, Suresh Wandile.

Mumbai is the financial and industrial capital of India, with an estimated population of 18 million.

"We have seen an increase in cases of swine flu in the state and we need to take precautions," added the spokesman, before indicating that all cinemas and theaters also will be closed for three days.

Mumbai is the capital of Bollywood, the epicenter of India's film industry.