Peru declares health emergency as dengue cases soar

Peru declared a health emergency in most parts of the country on Monday after a heat wave and heavy rains led to a spike in dengue fever cases.

At least 32 people have died of the disease so far this year, Health Minister Cesar Vasquez said on Monday.

There have been 31,300 cases recorded in the first eight weeks of the year.

“This is a grave problem,” Vasquez said last week. “And it is getting out of hand.”

Vasquez said Peru’s typical response to the disease had been “overtaken” by…