Wednesday 29 April at 10:00 : Apr.29 (GMM) One solution to the swine flu crisis for formula one would be to stage grands prix without spectators in the stands

That is the claim of the Swiss specialist publication Motorsport Aktuell, after reports emerged this week that the Spanish region of Catalunya is recording the highest incidence of flu infections on the European continent

The report quotes German health minister Ulla Schmidt as concurring that a potential pandemic, and public gatherings of thousands of people, do not mix

"Everyone understands that there cannot be a major gathering of 70,000 people, if thousands of them could become infected," she said

The Mexican death toll rose above 150 overnight, leading to the closure of schools, universities, museums, libraries, cinemas, theatres and churches

A major football game at the Azteca stadium took place on Tuesday in front of deserted grandstands, after spectators were barred