Only 353 people, however, are currently being treated for the disease, with 487 others released from medical facilities in the past eight days, health ministry figures show.

The number of new influenza cases is dropping across much of Peru, Ugarte said.

'We are in a period of real decline. The epidemic has not ended yet. We should not let down our guard. New cases of AH1N1 could still appear, so we are recommending that preventative health measures continue to be taken,' the health minister said.

President Alan Garcia and the other members of the Peruvian delegation that travelled to last week's Union of South American Nations, or Unasur, summit in Bariloche, Argentina, did not get swine flu, Ugarte said.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe was diagnosed with swine flu after returning home from the summit.