LIMA, March 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Martin Vizcarra said Peru has detected its first case of the new coronavirus in a 25-year-old man who had traveled to Europe.
The president called for calm and said Peru had taken “all the medical measures” to treat the patient, who had been in Spain, France and the Czech Republic and was in a stable condition.
Authorities have prepared isolation areas in five hospitals in the capital Lima in anticipation of the first cases, while setting up health care positions in the city’s international airport and several ports.
Latin America was the last region to confirm coronavirus infections but over the last week seven countries have been affected, the worst being Ecuador, with 13 cases.
While fears over coronavirus have gripped Peruvians, an outbreak of dengue fever in Amazon areas has left 15 people dead this year, according to official figures.
Meanwhile, LATAM Airlines said on Friday that an earlier first confirmed case of the new coronavirus in Peru had been contracted by one of the carrier’s employees.
LATAM said in its statement that the employee had been vacationing in Europe and had travelled through other airlines.
After returning to Peru, the memo said, the employee had not come back to work and had not had contact with other LATAM employees.
LATAM is South America’s largest carrier and is headquartered in Chile.
South American neighbors Argentina and Chile also announced their first confirmed cases this week, while a number of cases have been confirmed in Brazil. — NNN-AGENCIES