More children hospitalized as encephalitis spreads in Panama

The equine encephalitis virus continues to spread across Panama with three more suspected cases identified in Darien.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) reported on Monday (June 21) that, , three additional hospitalizations were recorded in the Children’s Hospital, bringing the number of cases admitted to hospital to 14.
The latest cases are three children: a girl of three years and two children, 8 and 13 years old. All three are residents of the communities of Tamarindo, La Moneda Churches and Aruza Rio Arriba, in the province of Darien.

The three children are in stable condition, according to an official report.

Of the 14 cases have been hospitalized, , nine remain in hospital, four were discharged and one died.

During field research in Darien,and Panama East, , 63 suspects who have not required hospitalization, have been identified and blood has been taken for laboratory studies and monitoring.

Given these new cases, the MoH reiterated that it is important that people, before any symptoms or signs (fever, headache and bone, irritability and if it is under one year, vomiting or diarrhea) is go to the nearest health center for medical evaluation.

The MoH has confirmed, that at present there is no human vaccine for equine encephalitis. {jathumbnail off}