Health Ministry: swine flu death toll rises to 121

Peru Health Minister Oscar Ugarte reported Tuesday that the AH1N1 flu virus claimed its 121st fatality.

In the past week, 12 Peruvians have died as a result of the swine flu, including three in Peru ’s capital, Lima .

In the northern coastal city of Trujillo – where 20 cases of the AH1N1 virus were recently detected in a police academy – Regional Health Manager Henry Rebaza ordered a 10-day class suspension, and sent teachers and students home.

As of Sept. 11, 2009, the virus, declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, WHO, had infected over 277,607 people and caused at least 3,205 deaths worldwide.

In Peru , 7,686 people have so far been infected by the swine flu. Of these, 7,312 have been released from the hospital after receiving treatment.