Tourists visiting South Africa for the Fifa Soccer World Cup have been advised to be vaccinated against diseases such as swine flu and measles.

Dr Frew Benson, cluster manager for communicable diseases in the National Department of Health, said visitors were advised to get their vaccinations, as countries, particularly in the northern hemisphere, were expected to be hit by a second wave of swine flu before June.

Meanwhile the department will be embarking on a national vaccination drive beginning in March, before the start of the regular flu season and the World Cup kick-off in June.

More than one million people will be targeted at a cost of more than R100-million, the department's Fidel Hadebe said. "We want to vaccinate people before the flu season starts. Prevention is better than cure," said Benson.

The department of health last year ordered about 1.3million doses of swine flu vaccine following the outbreak in the country and worldwide. Last year about 91 people died from the virus in South Africa, which claimed almost 6000 lives around the globe.

Benson said the vaccinations would help to prevent both the H1N1 swine flu virus and normal winter flu infections which are expected to hit the country this winter.

The health department's vaccine drive will target risk groups, which include pregnant women, people living with HIV/Aids, children below the age of 15 and health personnel who are working in casualties and emergency services.

Antiretroviral centres and ante-natal clinics will be used to administer the doses.

For other citizens who want to take precautions, clinics around the country will also be stocked.

Dis-Chem pharmacies manager, Rudi Voges, told The Times that 40000 doses of flu vaccine had been ordered from international suppliers.