Fear over outbreak of fatal swine flu prompt a week's closure for McBains Cooper's Mexico City office

McBains Cooper has shut its Mexico City office until further notice as a result of the swine flu outbreak.

The consultant is one of only a handful of UK firms operating in Mexico and is one of the biggest international firms operating in the area.

Santiago Klein, McBains Cooper's international managing director confirmed that the closure became effective today and that the office would remain closed until next Tuesday when the situation would be reassessed. At present there has been no decision on when the office will be reopened.

The consultant has 15 members of staff in the Mexico City office all of whom will work from home.

“We have decided everyone should work from home for three reasons,” said Klein. “First, we understand public transport has been disrupted, second the obvious health concerns and third, we have a good intranet which will allow people to work efficiently from their homes.”

He added that the firm was not underestimating the outbreak adding that reports suggest things in Mexico City are “pretty serious”.

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