Swine flu outbreak threatens at World Cup

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa faces a possible health crisis if a swine flu outbreak strikes during the soccer World Cup this year, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told parliament on Monday.

"One of our biggest nightmares is the fact that 2010 is going to be held in June when there is a possibility of another bout of H1N1," Motsoaledi said.

The month-long tournament, hosted in Africa for the first time, is expected to attract 450,000 tourists during the South African winter.

Motsoaledi said the department of health had managed to acquire 1.3 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine and another 3.5 million doses from the World Health Organization (WHO).

"We received a letter from the World Health Organization that they are going to donate to South Africa 3.5 million doses of H1N1 which will arrive in this country by March," he said, adding that the WHO donation saved South Africa about 250 million rand ($32.48 million).

The WHO, which declared swine flu a pandemic in June last year, has been in discussions with South African government officials on how to reduce the risk of the influenza spreading at the tournament.

The H1N1 virus has spread globally and killed nearly 5,000 people since first appearing in early 2009. Pregnant women and people with health problems such as diabetes are the most at risk.

"We are going to be vaccinating...starting with pregnant women, people at entry points, people who are involved in sports administration," said Motsoaledi. He said vaccinations would start soon.