Panama: Dengue fever outbreak continues

Event

On Monday, September 18, Panamanian health officials warned that a dengue fever outbreak is ongoing in several regions of the country. Affected areas include the provinces of Bocas del Toro, Panamá Oeste, Panama City, and San Miguelito.

The rise in cases of this mosquito-borne disease is in part due to the ongoing rainy season, during which time mosquito populations tend to increase. Dengue fever is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which can also transmit chikungunya and the Zika virus. These insects breed in small pockets of stagnant water (such as rain water that has collected in garbage heaps, tires, pots, etc.).

Context

Symptoms of dengue fever include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rash. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, the enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging. Be aware that aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen) should be avoided as these drugs may worsen bleeding issues associated with the disease; patients may be given doses of acetaminophen (paracetamol).

It should be noted that various other mosquito-borne diseases are present in parts of Panama, including the Zika virus, chikungunya, and malaria.

Advice

Individuals in the above regions - and Panama more generally - are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites - e.g. by wearing loose, covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in a screened-in or in an air-conditioned room - and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds.