"The department of health in KwaZulu-Natal has put in place measures to ensure that the influenza A(H1N1) outbreak does not reach the shores of the province," the department said in a statement.

The department said academics, port authorities, and border control and surveillance officers had been given guidelines to prevent the spread of the epidemic in the province.

"As part of our outbreak preparedness and readiness we have deployed outbreak response teams in all districts and we have trained them in influenza outbreak response," said the department's Dr Sandile Buthelezi.

He said guidelines on responding to an influenza outbreak had been disseminated to all health facilities and outbreak response teams.

"Our laboratories have put in place diagnosis systems and we are distributing anti-viral treatment to all facilities. The Port health facilities are on alert working closely with port authorities and points of entry officials.

"The airports are on alert and passive screening is being implemented," said Buthelezi.

The department said there was no threat of infection in South Africa "at this stage" unless people travelled to affected countries.