REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda/File PhotoLIMA, June 15 (Reuters) - Peru's embattled health minister announced her resignation late on Thursday during a speech in Congress, in the midst of a dengue outbreak already responsible for record-breaking deaths and infections.
Lawmakers had summoned Health Minister Rosa Gutierrez to face a motion to remove her from her post before she said she would resign.
President Dina Boluarte accepted the resignation and vowed to "redouble" efforts to improve public health in a post on Twitter.
Over the past week, deaths are up 24%, as cases jumped by more than 12%.
Last week, Boluarte declared a two-month state of emergency in most regions of the country, while most of the fatalities so far have occurred in northern Peru.
Persons:
Sebastian Castaneda, LIMA, Lawmakers, Rosa Gutierrez, Dina Boluarte, Boluarte, Marco Aquino, Valentine Hilaire, Lincoln
Organizations:
Nueva, REUTERS, Twitter, Thomson
Locations:
Nueva Esperanza, Lima , Peru, El Nino, Peru