Pune, Aug 12 - The well-known Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) has been closed for a week due to the spread of influenza A (H1N1) virus, an official said Wednesday.

'As per the government of Maharashtra, the district collector and the guardian minister's directions, all education institutes in Pune have been closed for a week, and even FTII has followed suit to the order,' an FTII official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

Institute director Pankaj Rag was unavailable for comment.

Other educational institutes to have closed down as a precautionary measure to evade the flu are Symbiosis International University, S.P. College, Indian Law Society (ILS) and Vishwakarma Institute of Technology (VIT).