Peru confirms third death from H1N1

A 38-year-old woman was confirmed Tuesday to be Peru's third victim of H1N1 swine influenza, a local health official said. The latest case was confirmed after forensic tests on the woman, who died on July 8, came positive, regional health director Aldo Lamas told reporters, explaining that "she had a low level of blood platelets and an alteration of fats." The disease had already killed two men in the country, who were among high-risk groups as both had been seriously sick before infection. Fifty cases of H1N1 swine flu have been reported so far this year in Peru, which was first hit by the disease in the 2009 pandemic that also affected many other Latin American countries. The Peruvian Health Ministry called for vaccination of children, pregnant women and senior citizens against respiratory diseases, especially H1N1 flu.