LIMA, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Some 5,600 cases of respiratory infections among infants under 5-year-olds were registered on Wednesday in Peru's southern Puno region, the regional health authorities said.
The surge in infections is caused by the abrupt change of weather in southern Peru, which is having rain, snow and hails, said the authorities.
So far, deaths from pneumonia have increased from 24 in the previous report to 49. In addition, there are 1,031 children suffering diarrhea, and two were reported dead.
San Roman is the hardest hit in Puno province, with 1,641 infants with respiratory infections, and 333 others with diarrhea.
Weather conditions also affected the health centers in Melgar and Huancane, causing delay to the treatment of sick children.
