A member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has dismissed claims that more than 150 people have died from swine flu, saying it has officially recorded only seven deaths around the world.

Mexico has lowered its confirmed death toll from swine flu from 20 to seven, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told reporters. He also raised the toll of "probable'' deaths from the H1N1 virus from 152 to 159. A total of 1311 people remain in hospital after exhibiting symptoms of the flu, he said.

Vivienne Allan, from WHO's patient safety program, said the body had confirmed that worldwide there had been just seven deaths - all in Mexico - and 79 confirmed cases of the disease.

"Unfortunately that [150-plus deaths] is incorrect information and it does happen, but that's not information that's come from the World Health Organisation," Ms Allan told ABC Radio today.