DENGUE ALERT: MoH announces action plan

WITH 1,964 cases of dengue reported so far this year, including two deaths, Panama’s Ministry of Health is moving quickly to try to control the outbreak.

The current figures are up by 635 over 2012 and the spread of the mosquito transmitted disease has triggered a national health alert and HAS implemented from December 16, several preventive measures to be extended indefinitely.

The aim is to prevent the proliferation of Aedes aegypti , which is the transmitter of the disease.
Seven components make up the contingency plan that the MoH is planning to carry out including interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral meetings.
The National Director of Health, Carlos Galvez, is seeking the assistance of the community to eliminate all breeding grounds and to prevent the deaths of more people.
The Department of Vector Control of the 14 health regions will strengthen operational spraying and elimination of breeding in home s, especially in areas declared endemic or with a higher register of cases of dengue areas ,Bocas del Toro , Chiriquí, Panama and Panama west metro.
Despite the worrying situation MoH Minister Javier Diaz said that "the country is not under an epidemic situation," adding that compared to Central America and Colombia, Panama has a lower incidence .
In Colombia 117,000 cases were reported in Nicaragua 58,000 and 50,000 in Costa Rica.
The highest number of cases recorded in Panama since 199 3was in 2009 when 7,469 were infected.
The most deaths in Panama were in 2011 when 17 people died, while seven people died in 2009.
PRECAUTIONS
The MoH has scheduled social mobilization for the elimination of breeding sites , involving intra and inter-sectoral and community groups , in addition to operating removal and cleaning kennels in conjunction with the various councils, community boards and the general population .
It has enabled people to make their complaints through MoH Twitter and Facebook account and through a new call center enabled for this purpose.
The MoH also calls for the regular cleaning of water channels, and drains, the prevention of clogging of reserve water tanks and the regular changing of pets’ drinking water containers..
It also recommended mosquito nets on beds, cots and hammocks and screens on doors and windows and the use of environmental repellents (spray , candles , tablets and skin lotions against mosquitoes). It is advisable to use clothing that covers extremities (arms and legs), empty and brush water tanks and not to self-medicate but go to the doctor at the early symptoms .