Jump in flu and pneumonia cases but cholera still biggest concern

Concerns about the possible outbreak cholera in Panama override a big increase in flu and pneumonia cases.

Data from the Ministry of Health (MINSA), show that up to November 13, an increase of 58,058 cases of flu had been reported, bringing the total to 220,709. There were 4,960 more Cases of of pneumonia almost doubled, from 4960 in 2009 to 9,217 in total) and there were 32,801 more cases of diarrhea (193,582 in total).

The flu increases can be blamed on the rainy season says Jorge Hassán, health director for the Panama metropolitan region, but the Ministty’s main concern of the is the cholera epidemic in Haiti.
Government sources have previously said that if the disease arrived in Panama and spread, it would overwhelm the country’s health services.