Government is launching an intensive information campaign to help people cope with the swine flu pandemic as the number of infections in South Africa rises, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said on Thursday.

Motsoaledi said he would record advertorials on Thursday to be aired on national television and radio and community radio stations, explaining the symptoms of the virus and advising on the best response to it.

He was also planning to send letters to schools, religious leaders and trade unions, as well as MPs and traditional leaders, while the ministry would distribute leaflets at malls and tax ranks.

Motsoaledi said South Africa so far had 1910 confirmed cases of swine flu and three deaths.

But he said there were fears that the country and the continent would be worse hit than other areas because poverty and diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis made people more vulnerable.

Motsoaledi said the public health system had about 100 000 doses of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu, but these were held in major centres, not small clinics in rural areas or townships.