A total of 843 people are currently suffering from swine flu infection in Afghanistan, and 16 have died of the virus, the Afghan Health Ministry reported.

The ministry said 332 of those infected are foreign nationals.

The mortality rate from swine flu infection in Afghanistan is higher than the global average, with 1.9% of sufferers dying, compared to international figures of between 0.5% and 1.5%. The groups at highest risk include pregnant women and children aged between six months and two years.

Afghanistan's first swine flu case was registered on July 3 this year. Most of those infected are aged between 15 and 35, with older people proving more resilient to the virus, the ministry said.

Over 8,500 people have died of swine flu worldwide since the outbreak was first registered in Mexico in March this year.

KABUL, December 1 (RIA Novosti)