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* JULY 10, 2009, 11:51 A.M. ET
Peru To Close Schools Early For Swine Flu Outbreak Fears
LIMA (Dow Jones)--Peru's government has ordered public and private schools and day-care centers to close one week ahead of a scheduled winter vacation in an attempt to curb the spread of the H1N1 flu epidemic.
There are currently 1,431 cases in the Andean nation, where three people have died from the virus, according to the Health Ministry.
The ministry recommended that children stay at home and avoid being in large crowds. Government officials also urged students to cancel class trips.
Mid-year vacations will begin July 13, instead of the scheduled July 20 date for the Independence Day holidays.
More than 94,500 cases of the H1N1 virus have been reported worldwide since the first reports in April, according to the World Health Organization.
-By Leslie Josephs, Dow Jones Newswires; 511-98853-8610; peru@dowjones.com