MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peru confirms first swine flu case in South America

Peruvian Health Minister Oscar Ugarte Wednesday confirmed that an Argentine woman was the first case of swine flu in Peru. This makes the first case reported and confirmed in South America.

The Argentine woman entering Peru was placed under observation after she was found to have had a high fever and other symptoms during her flight from Mexico.

After undergoing extended observation, authorities reported she was indeed infected with the virus despite the fact that preliminary tests had revealed she did not have it.

Alejandrina Coche, 27, is currently being seen at Daniel Alcides Carrión Hospital in Callao.

Ugarte stated that two other patients were currently under observation in the highland region of Cusco and the rainforest region of Loreto.

Argentina meanwhile has said that it still has four suspected cases of swine flu, after ruling out another 21 patients as having been infected with the deadly disease.