NewsDesk @bactiman63

A total of 18 of the 21 patients who were diagnosed with leishmaniasis after the outbreak detected in the community of Charco La Pava in Bocas del Toro had their disease reversed after receiving treatment and follow-up by the medical team of the Ministry of Health in that region.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis/CDC

Dr. Vitelio Carrera, regional medical director of the Minsa in Bocas del Toro, explained that three of the 21 patients diagnosed with leishmaniasis abandoned treatment while the rest did comply and the skin-type disease was reversed.

The Minsa team in Bocas del Toro followed up by traveling every 15 days to visit those infected with the disease, providing them with medication, which has helped reduce cases in Bocas del Toro where the disease is endemic, since it is the region where more personnel with leishmaniasis are detected throughout the country.

According to the regional director, the Minsa maintains continuous surveillance in several communities near Charco La Pava such as Valle del Rey, Changuinola Arriba and El Nance to monitor possible affected people.

Panama: 22 leishmaniasis cases reported in Bocas del Toro province

In these tasks of monitoring those affected and searching for possible new cases, a team made up of medical personnel, nurses, sanitation, nutritionists, a pharmacy and a vector team participate, explained the regional chief.

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease spread by the bite of an infected sandfly. The most common types of leishmaniasis are cutaneous and visceral. The cutaneous type causes skin sores, the visceral type affects internal organs such as the spleen, liver, and bone marrow.

To cure the disease, various drugs of prolonged use for 20 days are used, such as meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate.