Millions return to Mexico schools

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Swine flu restrictions continue to ease

Millions of Mexican children have returned to classrooms following the re-opening of schools as swine flu restrictions continue to ease.

Most states have re-opened schools closed since late April. Many children were wearing masks as they entered disinfected school buildings.

The Mexican government says it believes the spread of the virus has peaked, and the number of deaths now stands at 56.

Worldwide, there have been 4,700 confirmed cases of swine flu.

In Mexico, teachers and parents have spent days scrubbing classrooms with disinfectant.

Many children wore masks in their disinfected classrooms

The government distributed millions of bottles of sanitising hand gel to schools at the weekend.

For the children, the unexpected two-week holiday was not as enjoyable as it could have been, says the BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Mexico City.

Most spent the entire time indoors - observing the official advice to avoid catching the virus.

In several states, schools will remain closed for a further week as new cases of swine flu are investigated.

Meanwhile, Cuba has confirmed its first case of swine flu, in a Mexican student currently in the country.