Cherie Blair has been forced to pull out of a degree ceremony in Liverpool after she was struck down with suspected swine flu.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and his entire family were placed on a medical alert after his barrister wife Cherie came down with the symptoms of the disease.
Merseyside-educated Cherie was due to receive an honorary degree at Liverpool Hope University in recognition of her work in the field of human rights.
But she postponed her visit amid reports that she has contracted the potentially fatal H1N1 virus which is sweeping the world.
A spokesman for said: "Cherie Booth informed us on Wednesday that she would not be able to attend to receive and honorary doctorate."
Mrs Blair had been schedule to join 600 graduates receiving degrees in a ceremony at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
The scare for the Blairs comes as GPs reported that last week the numbers fearing they have developed swine flu i the UK had risen by 50 per cent to 40,000.
Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson is expected to announce that 30 per cent of the population is likely to be infected during the first wave of the pandemic.
Official government figures also suggest that between 0.1 per cent and 0.35 per cent of those with the virus will die, with up to 100,00 people a day likely to be infected at its peak.
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