Pete Doherty has 'swine flu'

A photo of the Babyshambles frontman with Dawn Askham – who is believed to have contracted the potentially life-threatening virus along with her husband Iain, while on their honeymoon in Mexico – has emerged showing Dawn with her arms wrapped around the rocker.

Pete Doherty has sparked speculation he has swine flu, after being pictured with Britain’s first sufferer. A photo of the Babyshambles frontman with Dawn Askham – who is believed to have contracted the potentially life-threatening virus along with her husband Iain, while on their honeymoon in Mexico – has emerged showing Dawn with her arms wrapped around the rocker.

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Dawn and Iain, from Scotland, returned from their holiday on April 21 and were transferred to an isolation ward in hospital on Saturday. A source said: “Pete’s friends are worried he may have the deadly illness. He has got himself clean of drugs, the last thing he needs is this.”

It is not known when the photo of Pete and Dawn was taken. Over 150 people in Mexico have so far died as a result of the flu. Though little is known about it, scientists are working to identify the virus and come up with a cure.

Professor Neil Ferguson of the World Health Organization told the BBC: “We could get substantial numbers infected in the next few weeks. If I was to be a betting man I would say it would be a slightly longer period of time just because we are heading into the summer months.”

Symptoms of swine flu include looking pale, weak and delirious and having a runny nose.