Preparations are being made in Croydon in the “unlikely” event swine flu reaches its borders.

The virus afflicting Mexico and North America is suspected of killing over 100 people and is thought to have infected hundreds more.

In Britain there has now been five confirmed cases, prompting primary care trusts to mobilise for a potential outbreak.

Steve Hunt from Croydon PCT said: “Medicine will only be available to those, who in the unlikely event of testing positive for swine flu, are treated in hospital.

"The Tamiflu drug is not a preventative drug and can only be used to tackle the virus once it has been established.

“We have a supply of the drug and if and when an outbreak reaches Croydon there will be enough to go around.”

In 1918 swine flu, or Spanish flu, reached pandemic proportions, killing nearly 20 million people worldwide.

Most victims were healthy young adults, while most flu outbreaks mainly affect young elderly, or weakened people.

See our health news section for more articles like this