Cholera Exposure in Peru Possible, Official Says
Peru’s health minister said Thursday it is possible the passengers who contracted cholera on an Aerolineas Argentinas flight from Buenos Aires to Los Angeles were exposed to the disease in Lima.
One passenger died after the Feb. 14 flight and at least 24 others became sick. The Argentine government said the outbreak was caused by infected food brought on board during a stopover in Lima. Peru initially denied the claim, and suspended Aerolineas’ landing rights in Lima.
The Peruvian minister, Victor Parederes Guerra, said it is possible that the passengers had been infected in Argentina. He said an investigation could determine where the infection occurred.
Parederes Guerra and health officials from nine other South American nations met here to develop a strategy on cholera. There have been about 380,000 cases, and nearly 4,000 deaths, since the epidemic began last January in Peru. It has spread to 13 other Latin nations.
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