Health officials say seven people in Iraq have died from the H1N1 influenza virus, also known as swine flu.

The World Health Organization says five of those deaths occurred in Baghdad, and there were deaths in Anbar and Basra.

The WHO says seven schools in Baghdad that reported cases of the flu have been closed.

Last month, local officials closed all schools in Wasit and Dhi Qar after cases of the flu were reported in those provinces, but World Health Organization officials say the closures were not in line with the WHO's guidance.

The WHO says, as of November 1, 16 provinces in Iraq have reported a total of 904 cases of swine flu. Almost half of the 429 individuals afflicted with the virus are members of international forces in the country, but there are no deaths among those troops.

As of October 25, the WHO says there have been more than 440,000 laboratory confirmed cases of swine flu in 2009. It said more than 5,700 deaths have been reported to WHO.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.