Monkeypox cases are increasing in Panama, as the latest report from the Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health (MINSA) reports 8 new infections registered from February 25 to 1, this increases the number to 118 accumulated cases, in the whole country.
According to MINSA, the confirmed cases have been registered in the provinces of Los Santos, Veraguas, Chiriquí and Panamá Oeste; and in the Health regions: Metropolitan, San Miguelito and Panamá Norte.
According to the data Bella Vista with 16 cases; San Francisco 11 cases; Calidonia with 7 cases; They are the corregimientos that report the most infections.
Followed by Río Abajo 6 cases; Lefevre Park with 5 cases, Pedregal, Juan Díaz, Pacora, Chilibre, Bethania and Ancón with 4 cases.
Below are Arnulfo Arias Madrid, Belisario Porras, Las Palmitas (Los Santos) and Tocumen with three (3) cases; then with two (2) cases registered to date, there are the corregimientos of Victoriano Lorenzo, Vista Alegre, Juan Demóstenes Arosemena, Arnulfo Arias Madrid, December 24, Mayor Díaz, Barrio Colón, Belisario Frías, El Chorrillo and Ernesto Córdoba.
The samples of all the cases 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 authorities indicated that of these 118 cases, 116 men and 2 women have tested positive; and the distribution of cases, remain in an age range between 19 to 59 years.
For its part, the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI) reports that, until January 30, 2023, 73 registered doses have been applied with 63 first doses and 10 second doses.
The Metropolitan Health Region has the largest number of doses applied with 49; North Panama with 6 applied doses; West Panama with 5 doses and with 1 dose applied San Miguelito, Coclé and Chiriquí.
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.
