Months of cold wave kills 94 children in Peru

Lima Health ministry in Peru said Wednesday that almost 100 children under the age of five died of pneumonia between January and April due to low temperature through Andean region.

Over 797,000 episodes of non pneumonic acute respiratory infections attacked youngsters during the period along with 9,286 cases of pneumonia, the ministry reported.

Health authorities said that the total reported deaths reached 94 from January 1 to April 28 where most of the deaths were in southern and southeastern departments – the poorest in Peru.

Temperatures in the areas hit 10 degrees below zero celsius (14 degrees fahrenheit) in areas with elevations above 3,000 meters (11,480 feet).

Around 359 toddlers under the age of five in Andes died last year because of cold temperatures, the health ministry added.

Pneumonia, according to the world health organization, is the leading cause of infant mortality worldwide, killing about 1.4 million children under five each year. -GIAN — ARA