Vaccination slashes flu season to 5 weeks

PANAMA’S Flu season which normally lasts 12 weeks was cut down, to only five weeks this year, largely due to a massive vaccination program of over two thirds of the population.

However, people should not let their guard down said Gorgas Memorial Institute Director Nestor Sosa

There were 61 deaths blamed on the flu. And the epidemic left a large number hospitalized, but most of them have been released.

The specialist said that the vaccine applied in the country protects people against three viruses: A (H1N1) influenza B and H3N2.

Influenza B and H3N2 are two viruses that still not have entered the country this year, but it could be an issue in the future.