UPDATE 1-Spain first in Europe to report swine flu

Published: 27 Apr 2009 02:24:37 PST

MADRID, April 27 - Spain became the first country in Europe to confirm a case of swine flu on Monday when a man who returned from a trip to Mexico last week was found to have the virus.

The unnamed man returned to Spain on April 22 and was put under observation on April 25 with chest problems, Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez told a news conference.

About 20 other patients are under observation, officials said.

"They are all stable, none of the cases is grave, not even that of the case confirmed (as swine flu)," Jimenez said.

"These are people who have recently been on trips to Mexico," she said, adding that Spain had sufficient doses stored of anti-viral medicine.