It was the news Britain dreaded as fears the deadly swine flu...

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.

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.