Panama has recorded 57 deaths from influenza, according to the Panamanian Ministry of Health; in addition, there has been an increase in cases of this disease.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health report that 94 people are hospitalized, and 14 are in intensive care units.
“I have seen in recent weeks that the number of influenza cases has increased. People who are going to the different health facilities have cold symptoms and have been diagnosed with influenza. There have also been several deaths nationwide, 57 deaths. It is important to mention that 95% of them did not have the vaccine. We have had that vaccine in the country since April,” explained Yaritzel Ríos, Health Director of the San Miguelito district in Panama City.
The official said that there has been a decrease in vaccination coverage, as people are not going to establishments to receive the vaccine, which has been available since last April.
“We have had a decline in vaccine placements. We have more than 60,000 vaccines administered in our district, and our district has a population of 400,000 people. There, it is evident that coverage has been a little low,” said Ríos.
However, Panama also reports effects from diseases such as dengue, among others.
“The epidemiological report for week 25 of 2024 reports 57 deaths from influenza, 5,758 accumulated cases of dengue; 78 new cases of malaria, 42 cases of screwworm in humans, 25 cases of leishmaniasis, 6 Zika, 3 Chikungunya and 2 cases of monkeypox,” the Ministry of Health detailed.
Respiratory infections in El Salvador are in the success zone
As of Epidemiological Week (EW) 27 of 2024, El Salvador has recorded 13 cases of influenza (including H3N2, H1N1, and parainfluenza), according to the epidemiological bulletin published by the Ministry of Health (Minsal).
The country’s Epidemiological Corridor for Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) shows that they are in the success zone.
Regarding dengue, the country has 268 confirmed cases, according to details provided yesterday by the Minister of Health, Francisco Alabi, in a press conference.
“There are 268 positive cases of dengue fever registered throughout the country. This low figure is thanks to the good work we are doing together with all the Government institutions in carrying out the fumigation, abatement and cleaning campaign,” said Alabi.
At the national level, actions continue to address dengue and other diseases to prevent impacts on the population.
For his part, the mayor of La Libertad Sur, Henry Flores, reported that they will proceed to fine the Alturas de Tenerife Residential Complex for preventing the entry of personnel from the Municipal Agents Corps (CAM) and Civil Protection to fumigate.
«Residencial Alturas de Tenerife will be fined $5000 for having denied entry to CAMST and Civil Protection who were going to fumigate due to a national emergency […] The security company will be fined $2,500 for not following protocols and not complying with the laws that govern them, which require them to allow an authority to work to safeguard the safety and lives of people,” Flores said.