Influenza A (H3N2), Variant K Cases Detected in Panama

Panama has reported cases of Influenza A (H3N2), variant K. The Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies (ICGES) confirmed three cases detected through laboratory analyses between November and December. One of the patients, a 23-year-old woman from the Bella Vista area, was hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Santo Tomás Hospital on November 12, 2025. Another patient, a 40-year-old woman, was treated at the Policentro de Parque Lefevre for flu-like symptoms and did not require hospitalization. The third patient was also treated on an outpatient basis. Health authorities are urging the public to seek timely medical care, maintain hygiene measures, wear a mask if symptoms appear, and get vaccinated against the flu, especially for people with chronic illnesses, older adults, and children.