All schools closed in Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (CNN) - All schools in Mexico are closed until at least May 6 to help curb the spread of swine flu, officials announced at a news conference Monday.

In addition, authorities are considering whether to suspend other public activities in the nation but are analyzing what economic impact that would have, Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordoba Villalobos said.

"Sadly, 149 people have died, of which we are working to confirm if they are linked to the swine flu," Cordoba said. "The number of cases, unfortunately, will continue to increase."

Confirmed deaths from swine flu remained at 20, he said. The World Health Organization said Monday there have been 26 confirmed deaths. There was no explanation for the discrepancy.

Nearly 2,000 people have been hospitalized and 776 remain in hospitals, Cordoba said.

"We don't know how long it will last because it's the first time we've seen an epidemic like this," he said. "Until there's a consistent reduction - and by that I mean a week, not a day or two - will we be able to say the problem is disappearing."

The first case of swine flu was detected April 2 in Veracruz, Cordoba said, but officials did not issue any alerts because it was an isolated incident.