Although Britain has decided to close its swine flu crisis unit, South Africa will be on high alert throughout the coming Fifa World Cup.

Britain was one of the first countries hit by swine flu but said last week that it planned to shut down its National Pandemic Flu Service, with health officials reporting a steady decrease in new swine flu cases.

In contrast, South African health officials have instructed the National and Provincial Outbreak Response Teams to continue monitor swine flu cases. Dr Frew Benson, cluster manager for communicable diseases at the national department of health, said the country is putting measures in place to deal with swine flu and the upcoming flu season.

The country will embark on a national swine flu vaccination drive from March, before the start of flu season and the World Cup kick-off. About 1.3 million doses of swine flu vaccine have been ordered to deal with the expected outbreak.

Although no new swine flu cases have been reported in the country this year, in 2009, 91 people died from the virus, which claimed almost 6000 lives worldwide.

Tourists visiting South Africa have been advised to be vaccinated in their home countries against swine flu and measles.

Yesterday Benson told The Times that the department will also embark on national measles and polio campaigns in April. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, 420 measles cases have been reported in South Africa and the disease has already claimed three lives. The Eastern Cape has been hardest hit with 108 cases, followed by Gauteng with 84 and KwaZulu-Natal with 67.

Gauteng department of health spokesman Mandla Sidu said the province is ready for the possibility of a measles outbreak. The health department has advised parents to vaccinate their children against measles.