Kevin Costner is so terrified of catching swine flu, he has barred his family from visiting him on tour with his band Modern West.

The Waterworld star's group is currently trekking around Europe - but Costner's wife Christine isn't among the adoring crowds the band is playing to.

The actor ordered her to keep their two young sons at home in the US to minimise the risk of picking up a bout of influenza.

Costner says, "It is unusual that my family are not here because they usually are always with me.

"But I have been worried about swine flu and didn't want my small children with me on this trip."