Authorities in the southern German state of Bavaria on Wednesday confirmed the country's first human swine flu infection.

Laboratory tests showed that a patient from the town of Regensburg was infected with the virus, the state's health ministry said.

Media reports said the man had complained of chills and fever after returning form a holiday in Mexico a week ago.

Officials said tests are currently being conducted on six other people in Germany suspected of being infected with the swine flu virus.

Doctors at major airports are conducting medical tests on passengers arriving from Mexico, where most of the world's swine flu deaths have been reported.

A flight bringing home 275 holidaymakers from the Mexican resort of Cancun was due to arrive in Munich at noon.

Germany is the third European country to confirm a human infection of swine flu after Britain and Spain.