
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 13, 1991                   TAG: 9102130051
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LIMA, PERU                                LENGTH: Short

CHOLERA DEATHS IN PERU HIT 70

The government Tuesday announced emergency measures to control a cholera epidemic that has claimed more than 70 lives and threatens to spread to other Latin American countries.

The announcement was apparently in response to a declaration by World Health Organization officials Monday in Geneva that the epidemic, the first known outbreak in Peru since the 1880s, could soon spread to neighboring countries.

News reports Tuesday said the epidemic has spread to parts of the Peruvian highlands and jungle previously untouched. The reports put the latest death tally at over 70. Health Ministry officials said more than 8,500 cases had been treated since late January.

The European Community on Tuesday promised $700,000 in emergency medical aid.

Housing and Construction Minister Guillermo Del Solar said the government planned to renovate Lima's antiquated water and sewage systems to reduce contamination, and to issue chlorine tablets so the population can sterilize the water.

Laboratory analysts' reports said samples of Lima's drinking water contained feces that can spread the disease. The state water purification company Sedapal denied the charge.

by CNB