Schools in seven Mexican states reopen

Students are going back to school in seven Mexican states where extended classroom closures were used to guard against the spread of the A/H1N1 virus.

Children wearing surgical masks to protect themselves against  influenza A (H1N1) listen to their teacher after returning to school  in Mexico City May 11, 2009.REUTERS/Henry Romero

Mexico reopened most schools last week after a two-week hiatus, but some states delayed reopening them for an additional week because of a local increase in suspected flu cases. Students on Monday went back to classes in seven states.

The schools were careful to weed out children with flu-like symptoms: headaches, muscular pain, a sharp increase in temperature and breathing difficulties. Mexicans are more relaxed these day as the number of new infections has declined sharply.