Panama Reports 272 Dengue Cases

According to the report, 272 cases of dengue have been registered nationwide during epidemiological week No. 2. No severe cases have been reported to date. The incidence rate for this week is 5.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The age group with the highest number of cases is 35 to 49 years old. According to the Ministry of Health (Minsa) report, the Metropolitan Region leads with 68 cases, followed by Bocas del Toro with 38, Panama West with 31, and Colón and Herrera with 25 cases each. San Miguelito has 24 cases, Panama North has 22, Chiriquí has 17, and Panama East has 12. Veraguas reports 5 cases, Coclé reports 4, and Los Santos reports 1. The provinces of Darién, and the indigenous regions of Ngäbe-Buglé and Guna Yala have not registered any cases. Of the total, 243 cases show no warning signs, while 29 do. However, the most affected age group is 10 to 19 years old. Additionally, a death from epidemiological week No. 1 is updated; it is an 18-year-old man from Toabré, district of Penonomé, province of Coclé. The district with the most cases to date is Bocas del Toro (the district capital), with 14 cases, followed by Tocumen with 13 and Las Tablas (district of Changuinola) with 12 cases. During this period, 27 patients were hospitalized. The population is urged to eliminate all unused containers that can accumulate water (cans, bottles, tires, among others), cover containers used for water collection, and regularly clean the surroundings of homes. Among the main symptoms of dengue are: fever, headache, general malaise, muscle aches, and eye pain. The Minsa continues to intensify operations throughout the country in 2026, supported by the Vector Control team and Health Promotion strategies to reduce dengue cases. The population is advised not to self-medicate and to promptly go to a health center if they suspect the disease, paying special attention to the warning signs.