Mexican President Felipe Calderon said on Monday that his country will allow its higher education institutions to reopen on Thursday and primary schools to reopen next Monday, as flu fears ease.

"So that parents and the education community can... feel secure that children and young people are returning to classes in a safe and healthy environment," said Calderon, adding that he had instructed the public education minister to keep the return to classes gradual.

He also urged parents to cooperate in carrying out security and health measures.

The government last week ordered all schools from nursery to university level to close, after an outbreak of a new strain of A/H1N1 flu, first reported on April 23.

On Monday, however, the country's worst hit Mexico City reported signs of stabilization in infections, no new deaths for three days, and reduction in the number of people being hospitalized with the disease. The nation's health minister also said that the disease appears to be spreading not much more rapidly than normal seasonal flu.

"During the coming days, it will be crucial for us to not lower our defense nor neglect all that has been achieved in the enormous social, personal, family and financial efforts by millions of Mexicans," Calderon said.

The Mexico City authorities called on residents to remain alert, even after the relaxation of some anti-flu measures including the opening of museums, libraries, temples and libraries.

The city will do massive cleaning of its public transport, which has been operating throughout the flu emergency, while other public areas and businesses were closed.

The A/H1N1 flu caused breathing difficulties, headaches, muscular pains and sharply high temperature. In Mexico City, people were advised to wear masks, wash hands and avoid crowds.

Some 26 people are confirmed killed by the virus, and a further 727 people have been confirmed infected across the country. The disease has spread to 21 nations.

(Xinhua News Agency May 5, 2009)