Zica cases climb to 73, one imported

THE NUMBER of  cases of Zika virus confirmed in Panama had climbed to 73 by Saturday  February 20 February says Health Minister, Francisco Javier Terrientes.

He made the announcement  during a tour of the village of Pacora, where spraying is  underway  in the area of ​​Rio Chico,  a place under investigation for the first case of Zika virus reported outside of Guna Yala.

The patient comes from a farm located in Pacora, now under care in Tocumen.

According to the Ministry, of the 73 cases, 71 are in Guna Yala, one in  Tocumen, and one is a person returning from Venezuela.

On Tuesday  February 16  the Government declared a countrywide health alert because of the Zika virus.

MoH authorities are continuing  with fumigation operations  to attack the Aedes aegypti mosquito which transmits dengue, and chikungunya and  zika