Costa Rica has confirmed its 7th death related with the A/H1N1 flu on Tuesday, Health Minister Maria Luisa Avila said on Tuesday.

The seventh death case was a 24-year-old male, who died on July 11 of respiratory complications related to his overweight and smoking addiction, Avila said.

So far, a total of 428 A/H1N1 flu cases have been confirmed in Costa Rica, with 20 suspected cases to be examined by lab tests, said Avila.

The minister said Costa Rica was at one of the peaks of the pandemic, and there would be more cases and deaths in the coming weeks.

Costa Rica reported its first A/H1N1 flu death case on May 9.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2009)