BRITAIN EXPOSED; Two victims kept in isolation.

Byline: MARTIN FRICKER; MAGGIE BARRY

IT was the news Britain dreaded as fears the deadly swine flu outbreak would reach our shores became a grim reality last night.

Doctors confirmed two tourists who recently returned from Mexico had the disease that has killed 149 people in the Central American country.

As the virus threatened to sweep across the world, the number of victims in America hit 40. It has also reached Spain.

There are suspected cases in France, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Israel, Hong Kong, Peru and Ireland.

SYMPTOMS

The two Brits with the disease were still being treated in isolation at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, near Glasgow.

Tests were being carried out on seven friends who had developed symptoms.

And there were fears others who have been in contact with the pair may have picked up the virus.

Tests are being carried out on 24 people in total suspected of having the virus in Britain.

A woman in Newcastle was being checked out after feeling unwell on her return from Mexico. Sources said initial results suggest she had the disease.

In Harlow, Essex, a man was admitted to hospital with flu-like illness.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson insisted Britain had the means to cope with an outbreak and urged people not to panic.

He said: "The UK has been preparing for a flu pandemic for the last five years. We have established a stockpile of enough anti-virals to treat more than 33 million people, half of the population."

Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the infected victims, who have not been named, have had Tamiflu anti-viral drugs and are "recovering well".

The disease continued to sweep through Mexico like wildfire yesterday, with 1,995 people now being treated in hospital.

To make matters worse, Mexico City suffered a powerful earthquake that damaged buildings and shattered the already fragile nerves of its residents.

More public buildings were closed down along with all the country's schools as health officials struggling to contain the spread warned the death toll will rise.

But the Mexican government has yet to say where and how the epidemic began two weeks ago and is still refusing to give details on its victims.

Tourists returning from the country were being screened at airports across the globe yesterday. At Gatwick passengers on a flight from the resort of Cancun were examined by a doctor after complaining they felt unwell.

One, Alex Mortimer, 30, of London, said: "They asked over the Tannoy if anyone had any flu-like symptoms or felt ill.

"Three to four passengers put their hands up. They were taken off the plane before everyone else. The doctor gave us advice on the symptoms to look out for in case we fell ill in the next days.

"At the airport in Cancun everyone was buying surgical masks and wearing them just in case." World Health Organisation spokesman Paul Garwood said he feared a pandemic was inevitable. He added: "We've seen an increased number of confirmed cases in several countries.

"We're very concerned about the number of cases appearing, and the fact that more and more are in different countries."

The EU's health commissioner urged people to cancel non-essential travel to Mexico and affected parts of the US.

Four people in Ireland were being tested for the flu. In America, President Barack Obama met with the country's leading scientists to discuss the outbreak.

Cases have been confirmed in New York, California, Texas, Kansas and Ohio.

Mr Obama said the virus was a cause for concern but not alarm.

But US health official Richard Besser warned: "People need to be ready for the idea that we could see more severe cases in this country and possibly deaths."

A 23-year-old man from Almansa, Spain, who had been on a study trip in Mexico, was diagnosed with the disease.

MUTATE 

Tests were last night being carried out on 20 other people in the country suspected of having the disease.

Scientists fear the virus may mutate into a more dangerous strain. They warned young adults will be most at risk if that happens.

Holiday tour operators in Germany and Japan suspended charter flights to Mexico City. In Russia, Hong Kong and Taiwan visitors returning from flu-affected areas were quarantined.

TOLL AROUND THE WORLD...

DEATHS: 149, all in Mexico, 20 confirmed as swine flu and the rest suspected. 1,995 people have been hospitalized with pneumonia but government does not yet know how many were swine flu.

SICK: Forty confirmed in US, 28 at one New York City school. Elsewhere, 6 confirmed in Canada; 2 confirmed in Scotland, 13 suspected in New Zealand; 1 confirmed and 17 suspected in Spain; 1 suspected in France; 1 suspected in Israel. Confirmed cases in US: 28 in New York, 7 in Cali- fornia, 2 in Kansas, 2 in Texas and 1 in Ohio.

SAFETY MEASURES IN MEXICO: All schools suspended until May 6. In Mexico City, surgical masks given to subway passengers, public events cancelled, public venues closed and church services postponed. President assumed new powers to isolate infected people. World Bank loaning Mexico more than $200million.

SAFETY MEASURES WORLDWIDE: US government declares public health emergency and travellers questioned at border. Airports screen travellers from Mexico and US. China, Russia, Taiwan and Bolivia to quarantine anyone with symptoms. EU health chief urges Europeans to postpone non-essential travel to US and Mexico.

CAPTION(S):

Promotions girls cover their mouths with masks during a Fair in Aguascalientes MEXICO Pilots wearing masks arrive at Barajas Airport in Madrid . The country has 21 suspected cases of swine flu SPAIN A league game is held behind closed doors in the Aztec Stadium following the swine flu outbreak MEXICO A worker sorts out face masks at a factory in Tienchung in central Taiwan TAIWAN WORRIES Alex was on plane with ill passengers FAST TREATMENT Health chief Nicola Sturgeon, left, said victims at Monklands Hospital are 'recovering' Hospital staff stand by a sign alerting members of the public to report if they have been to certain countries SINGAPORE