Bridgestone Corp. said on May 1 that it would temporarily shut its four plants in Mexico due to the spread of swine flu.

The company will suspend operations at the factories for five days starting on May 1, Bridgestone spokesman Wataru Nishizaki said.

Mexican authorities have put the country on a five-day holiday to try to minimize public contact and slow the spread of the virus.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2009