Mexico City - The number of swine-flu deaths in Mexico has risen to 16 and its human infections with the virus have grown to 397, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said. Cordova's announcement Friday night followed his statement the evening before that Mexico's toll in the outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus could rise as more tests are carried out on the 159 people who have died recently in Mexico of various forms of the flu.

Meanwhile, Mexico City residents observed the quietest Labour Day in their memory Friday after the government ordered all public events and activities to be cancelled to prevent a further spread of the virus in the country hardest-hit by the illness.

Traditional demonstrations for Labour Day were cancelled, and restaurants were closed. Most grocery stores and other businesses were open, however, in Mexico's capital.

Before Cordova's announcement, Mexico had reported 15 deaths from 358 infections.

The only other country to report an H1N1 death is the United States with one out of 141 infections.

The other governments reporting infections, according to the World Health Organization, are Canada with 34, Spain with 13, Britain with eight, New Zealand and Germany with four each, Israel with two, and Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland, Hong Kong and South Korea with one each.

The swine-flu outbreak is caused by a new flu strain that has genetic elements that come from three species - pigs, birds and humans.(dpa)