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Has the swine flu become the number one enemy among football fans across the world? The World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday that it was collaborating with the South African government to find measures to deal with a possible spread of the virus during the 2010 FIFA World Cup event. Over half a million football enthusiasts are expected at the international sporting event in South Africa next year.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Football Federation (FIFA) are concerned over the possibility that the World Cup, to be held in 2010 in South Africa, could be threatened by the Swine Flu.

“WHO is in consultation with the South African government and the organising committee of the FIFA confederation 2009 and the World Cup 2010. We are working with the government to be able to best respond to any kind of public health event that could happen during large mass gatherings like the two football cups." Aphaluck Bhatiasevi, a spokesman for the WHO Thursday told Afrik.com.

In an interview with Le Monde, Aphaluck Bhatiasevi further explained that the WHO is studying “the (South African) government’s projects” as well as “all measures that could be put in place to deal with outbreaks". The World Cup will take place during the winter season (in the southern hemisphere), a favourable period for influenza epidemics.

FIFA, according to 20 minutes, a Swiss daily, Tuesday indicated that it has been in "constant consultation with the WHO for several months." "They keep us informed of developments concerning the pandemic, not only in South Africa but wherever we organise events. For the moment it is too early to envisage a scenario or make decisions. We do not speculate on what the future holds," the Federation said.

On the question of a possible cancellation, the Football Federation insists that the World Cup will take place as scheduled, at least for now. Any decision leading to the cancellation of the World Cup, according to Aphaluck Bhatiasevi, would be up to local authorities to make, because they will have to bear the economic and social consequences. Some 630 000 World cup tickets have already been sold.

The WHO urged football fans going to Germany for the previous World Cup in 2006 to get vaccinated against measles. This time, the organisation is even more cautious with the Swine flu. Four months after its appearance in Mexico, the swine flu has caused 816 deaths and has affected almost every country on the planet.{#}