One death and 666 new cases of the A/H1N1 influenza were confirmed in Latin America on Thursday.

Chile confirmed the death of a 40-year-old patient due to complications from the flu. The death was the fourth in Chile, officials said.

The Chilean government reported a current total of 3,125 people infected with the flu virus, including the four who died.

Mexico's total number of confirmed cases has reached 7,624 with 113 deaths, the Mexican Health Ministry said in a statement.

Costa Rica reported 28 new cases of the flu, bringing the total number of cases there up to 177.

El Salvador confirmed 23 new cases in less than 48 hours, raising the number of cases there to 160.

Elsewhere in Latin America, Nicaragua reported 23 new cases and put the country's total number of cases at 157. Honduras confirmed eight new cases and said 108 people there have been infected with the virus.

Brazil confirmed 13 new cases. Four new cases were reported in Colombia, 11 in Paraguay, 23 in Peru and two in Cuba.

Experts have expressed concern that while Mexico has likely seen the worst of the flu, the virus will likely continue to spread worldwide as flu season ramps up in the Southern Hemisphere.

The World Health Organization last week declared the flu outbreak a pandemic. The WHO said that as of Monday, 76 countries and regions have reported nearly 36,000 cases of the virus.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2009)