8 new monkeypox cases bring total to 118

The Ministry of Health (Minsa) reported that eight new cases of monkeypox have been registered, for a total of 118 accumulated cases, throughout the country. 

Confirmed cases, to date, have been registered in the provinces of Los Santos, Veraguas, Chiriquí and Panama Oeste; and in the Health regions: Metropolitan, San Miguelito, and Panamá Norte.

The health entity said that the samples were sent to the Gorgas Memorial Institute where they were processed, giving positive results with monkeypox, so the regional health teams immediately carried out field investigations in order to determine the close contacts of these cases and offer them vaccination against monkeypox to break the chain of transmission of the virus and the spread of the disease. 

The corregimientos with the most confirmed cases of monkeypox, to date, are: Bella Vista with 16 cases; San Francisco with 11 cases; Calidonia with 7 cases; Río Abajo 6 cases; Lefevre Park with 5 cases, Pedregal, Juan Díaz, Pacora, Chilibre, Bethania and Ancón with 4 cases. 

Of these 118 cases, 116 men and 2 women have tested positive; and the distribution of cases, remains in an age range between 19 to 59 years. 

The Expanded Immunization Program (PAI) reported that, until January 30, 2023, 73 registered doses have been applied with 63 first doses and 10 second doses.