Bulgaria announced on Monday its first swine flu case. A person who recently returned from the United Stated has been tested positive for the A/H1N1 virus, Reuters informs, citing a report published by the Bulgarian Ministry of Health.

The patient is a man who returned to Bulgaria from the US last week. According to the report, the man is currently hospitalised and his physical shape is good.

"The man used to live in the US. He returned in the country from New York, flying to Sofia with an exchange flight in Amsterdam", the report goes on to show.

The health authorities examined four other persons who had made contact with the patient. But none of them was infected.

The new flu virus has infected 17,500 people so far, causing 115 deaths worldwide.