Panama H1N1 health alert
THE RAPID increase in cases of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), and the prevalence of influenza A (H1N1), has led Panama’s Ministry of Health (MoH) to issue a health alert .
Forty three cases have been confirmed. Of these, 35 people are hospitalized in various hospitals in the capital (Arnulfo Arias Madrid Hospital of Pediatrics, San Fernando, National Hospital AND Sano Tomas.) At least 15 are in intensive care
At a Tuesday June 1 press conference, health authorities said they have a million vaccines to address the situation.
In Panama there is currently an epidemic not an outbreak. What has happened is there is a higher frequency of virus circulation, especially the A (H1N1), according to theMoH director of Epidemiology , Lourdes Garcia.
Meanwhile, the director of Epidemiology, Social Security, Rudick Kant said the virus that is circulating is the same that arrived in the country in 2009.
Signs and symptoms caused by influenza include fever, cough, sore throat and runny nose in children can cause otitis media, nausea and vomiting. The duration is approximately three to seven days.
Complications from influenza virus most common are: pneumonia, bronchopneumonia or bronchiolitis, sinusitis and otitis media; these conditions may worsen and cause death.
