In a follow-up to the H1N1 influenza outbreak in Panama, which the government recently declared a national health alert, La Prensa reports (computer translated) that Panamanian Health Minister Francisco Javier Terrientes submitted his resignation, according to sources close to President Juan Carlos Varela.
Terrientes replacement has already bee chosen–Deputy health minister, Miguel Mayo.
The outbreak has resulted in 22 deaths and 671 hospitalizations due to the virus. Approximately half remain admitted and 38 are in intensive care.
Influenza-related fatalities have been reported from West Panama, Colon, David, Santiago, San Miguelito and Aguadulce.
Panama’s government has announced it would make nearly one million more doses of A(H1N1) vaccines available by next week.
Related:
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- Puerto Rico: 1500 confirmed Zika virus cases, ‘It is imperative to continue to bring the message of prevention’
A nasty, disabling strain it looks to be and if it’s on the continent, it could make its way in this direction. Now that they have some strategy we can hope they will endure the peak better and recover faster.
I am from Panama and situation is and even though the disease is serious, I think its a little to exagerated. The vaccine is wildly availanle across the country, and every week thousands more and being brought. With proper hygene and vaccination, the outbreak will soon die out without becoming a worry-some epidemy.
Thank you Daniel for that on the ground perspective
Robert
I am currently living in Panama and I can tell you it is not being blown out of proportion. The shot has run out in most of the hospitals with some arriving today. [Today as in the day this comment was posted] There is a lack of organization and control, hospitals are flooding with people while health care officials try to undermine the situation. With political events coming up it is rather easier to hide the truth than face the real problem.
I love this country; yet it is not able to actively control such a epidemic by itself. With shots coming from France and the US the government will be able to slow but it is getting worse as more people seek out the vaccine. I truly hope im wrong but facts are facts.