At least 8,768 people have died of swine flu globally, the World Health Organization reported on Friday.

As of November 29, more than 207 countries had reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1, the WHO said.

"In the Russian Federation, influenza activity remains active and intense in some regions, with an overall increasing trend," the global health organization said.

About 600 people have died in Russia from flu, including the H1N1 virus, since the start of the year, the Russian health minister, Tatyana Golikova, said last week.

She said 11,633 swine flu cases have been so far registered in Russia.

The official death toll from swine flu in Russia has reached 16. Media reports earlier said there have been 26 human swine flu deaths registered in the country.

Mass swine flu vaccinations began in five Russian regions on November 9.

MOSCOW, December 4 (RIA Novosti)