MOSCOW, September 22 (RIA Novosti) - The number of swine flu cases worldwide has passed 308,000, with almost 4,200 deaths, Russia's consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said on Tuesday citing World Health Organization regional bureaus.

"At 2:00 p.m. Moscow time (12:00 GMT) on September 22, 2009, taking into account data from WHO regional bureaus, the number of laboratory confirmed A/H1N1 infections worldwide is 308,660 including 4,165 deaths," the statement said.

There are currently 381 swine flu cases officially registered in Russia, according to health ministry data mainly among those returning home from foreign trips, Rospotrebnadzor said.

The first death from A/H1N1 was reported in Russia on Monday, although Russia's health ministry swiftly denied the reports, saying the female medic, who had recently returned from Bulgaria, died of pneumonia.

Russian sanitary officials are continuing to check passengers on flights arriving in the country from destinations with confirmed cases of swine flu.

The watchdog said 1,085 people displaying flu symptoms were recorded during airport checks. All of them received medical treatment, including 950 who were hospitalized for further tests.