BRUNEI: Around 200 British soldiers were held overnight in Brunei this week after arriving on a flight from Britain, over fears they could have swine flu, health officials said Wednesday.

Three of the soldiers, two of whom had recently visited Mexico, were deemed at risk of carrying the virus after their chartered plane arrived in the Southeast Asian nation late Monday, the health ministry said.

Norhayati Kassim, from Brunei's health ministry, told AFP the soldiers were released late Tuesday after being held in a hostel since their arrival.

Health ministry spokesman Abdul Khalid said two of the troops had recently visited Mexico and that a third was feverish.

Officials said the decision to isolate the soldiers was a precautionary measure against swine flu, which has infected 27 people in Britain and killed 29 in worst-hit Mexico.

They said an unspecified number of flight crew were also isolated but later released.

The soldiers were in Brunei for military training, according to the British embassy in Brunei. The British army maintains a garrison in the state. About 100 British soldiers work alongside Nepalese Gurkhas troops at the base, which also includes a jungle warfare school and a small helicopter unit.