Judith Pena | March 1, 2023
Seven new cases of monkeypox were reported by the Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), these were registered during the week of February 24 to March 1, bringing the figure to 167 accumulated cases throughout the country.
Of the 167 accumulated cases, 35 patients are active cases (27 in home isolation and 8 in isolation in health facilities), while 132 ended their isolation without major setbacks.
The accumulated cases have resulted positive 165 men and 2 women; and the distribution of cases, remain in the age range between 19 to 59 years.
So far in 2023, 77 new cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in the country, which is why MINSA stresses that prevention is essential to prevent the contagion and spread of this disease.
As the protocol dictates, the samples were sent to the Gorgas Memorial Institute where they were processed, giving positive results with monkeypox, so the regional health teams immediately carried out field investigations in order to determine the close contacts of these cases. and offer them vaccination against monkeypox to break the chain of transmission of the virus and the spread of the disease.
The Health regions with the most confirmed cases are the Metropolitan Region with 99 cases; West Panama with 25 cases; San Miguelito with 17 cases; It is followed by North Panama with 12 cases; Chiriquí with 5 cases; Los Santos and Veraguas with 3 cases; East Panama with 2 cases and Bocas del Toro with 1 confirmed case, to date.
For its part, the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI) reports that, until February 27, 425 doses of the monkeypox vaccine have been applied, with 397 first doses and 28 second doses.
Since last May 24, Panama has maintained a health alert throughout the country and epidemiological surveillance has been redoubled in all health regions and all points of entry into the national territory.
MINSA reiterates that maintaining healthy lifestyles and avoiding contact with people who are carriers of the virus is vital to counteract the spread of this disease.
