SAN JOSE – Costa Rican health authorities confirmed Sunday the deaths of two Nicaraguan women from pneumonia caused by the H1N1 virus, bringing the total number of people who have died of – or of complications from – swine flu here to 40.

The deceased were 33 and 51 years old and both died about two weeks ago, Costa Rican Health Minister Maria Luisa Avila told local reporters.

The two patients had other risk factors working against them, including obesity and diabetes, said Avila, who added that – in addition – the women waited to go to health centers until they had already been having symptoms of the virus for five days, which is generally too long in the estimation of the medical community, particularly if one has other risk factors.

Costa Rica is expecting in the coming weeks to receive 200,000 doses of swine flu vaccine which will be administered first to health care workers and then to the most at-risk population, including pregnant women.

In January, authorities said that they are scheduled to receive another 250,000 vaccine doses.

In all, according to Avila, Costa Rica will invest some $3 million in purchasing the vaccine.