H1N1 death toll climbs to 60

THE DEATH TOLL from the A(H1N1) influenza virus in Panama, thought to have been on the wane, has risen to 60 said the  Ministry of Health (MoH) on Friday July 22.

The deaths occurred in public and private hospital facilities.

The MoH reiterated that more than 90% of deaths have occurred in people with risk factors and other associated complications,  many of them died after a prolonged period of hospitalization in intensive care units

The total cumulative cases of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) that have required hospitalization is 3, 061 patients, of whom 2, 783 were already discharged.

Meanwhile, 278 patients remain hospitalized.

The MoH said that that since April 22, over three  million doses of influenza vaccine have been administered  in all health regions. On Thursday 360,000 doses were distributed  to all health regions.

The Ministry  called on all people who have not yet been vaccinated to attend ahealth center or nearest polyclinic, because with the rainy season and temperature changes there is increased susceptibility to the disease and complications.