Panama has confirmed 16 cases and one death linked to the disease. According to a statement, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) assures that the outbreak in the district of Besikó is “contained” thanks to health personnel who went door-to-door, searching for patients, taking samples, providing immediate treatment, and conducting mass vaccination in affected communities. The outbreak was confirmed last November 8th, which led to the suspension of classes and a notification to Costa Rica due to the mobility of indigenous families during the sugarcane harvest season. The deceased person had a heart condition and a tracheostomy. The communities where cases have been found are Cerro Miel, Pava, Carro Caña, Buri, and Quebrada Venado. Minsa asked families to avoid moving between communities but made it clear that there is no health cordon or quarantine in Besikó. The press also reported a case outside the region, a 44-year-old man residing in the metropolitan area. The Ngäbe Buglé region, the most populous in the country, has over 212,000 inhabitants and faces a poverty rate exceeding 88%, according to the 2023 census. The Panamanian government announced today that they have contained the whooping cough outbreak that had been hitting several communities in the Ngäbe Buglé region, near the border with Costa Rica. As of May 2025, there were already 14,000 cases and 93 deaths in the Americas. PAHO reminds that whooping cough is a highly contagious disease caused by bacteria that lodge in the mouth, nose, and throat, and it can become serious without medical attention. Meanwhile, a death was reported that, although linked to a confirmed case, was not attributed to a direct cause, according to the medical investigation itself.
