Thailand may have its first case of A(H1N1) infection, but the patient had already been treated and allowed to return home, Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, who heads the swine-flu prevention task force, said on Tuesday.

Maj-Gen Sanan said  the United States laboratory whichtested the samples had sent back its report, but he had not seen the details.

The patient may actually have contracted the virus, but was treated and later discharged from  hospital later, he said.

Doctors had confirmed that the treated patient cannot transmit the disease to other people.

Public Health spokesman Suphan Srithamma said the case could be the the first case of A(H1N1) flu in Thailand.