BBC NEWS | Americas | Mexico economy squeezed by swine flu$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')his mutation is costing a fortune.
In Mexico City alone, the mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, has put the figure at $88m (£59m) a day.
But how much will swine flu hit the wider Mexican economy?
Tourism, which represents 8% of Mexico's gross domestic product (GDP), is the sector which will inevitably be hardest hit.
In the current environment, most people see little incentive to visit Mexico, and plenty of reason to leave.
The Mexican government has lobbied hard behind the scenes to prevent its borders being closed, or any formal quarantine being imposed.
But other governments and airlines are beginning to apply their own restrictions.
Job losses
Cuba and Argentina have already stopped direct flights to Mexico. France is seeking a formal European ban on flights.
The real cost of swine flu depends on how long this crisis lasts.
It looks like swine flu will at best postpone a recovery to the second half of the year
UBS bank in Mexico City estimates the crisis could take out 0.2% of annual GDP if it subsides in the next two weeks, or 0.8% of GDP if it goes on for two months.
The timing could hardly be worse.
Mexico is already in the midst of a complex and disruptive drug war, and is being hit hard by the global recession.
Not even taking swine flu into account, Mexico's central bank forecasts a fall in GDP of up to 4.8% this year.