Mexico's health officials said on Wednesday that 99 swine flu cases have been confirmed. Eight of the confirmed cases were already died.

Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said the death of eight people that has been confirmed was being linked to the presence of this virus.

He said food, medical and transportation sectors would not be affected by the outbreak of the pandemic.

In continued efforts to fight the pandemic, Mexico suspends nonessential services at government offices, private businesses.

The Mexican government called on Wednesday for non-essential services to shut down between May 1-5 to help combat the swine flu outbreak.

Finance Minister Agustin Carstens said the outbreak of the new, deadly swine flu could cut up to 0.5 percent from the country's gross domestic product.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2009)