http://elsiglo.com.pa/panama/disminuyen-casos-leishmaniasis-bocas-toro/24198208

With everyone still worried and dealing with Covid and the fallout from all accompanied with the virus. Travelers and Ex-Pats in and around the biggest tourism area of Panama need to take notice of this disease that has indeed caused deaths, and is spread via mosquitoes ( or more specifically, sandflies).

What is LEISHMANIASIS?

https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/leishmaniasis/index.html#:~:text=Leishmaniasis%20is%20a%20parasitic%20disease,bite%20of%20phlebotomine%20sand%20flies.

Minsa maintains continuous surveillance in several communities near Charco La Pava

The Ministry of Health reported that a total of 18 of the 21 patients who were diagnosed with leishmaniasis after the outbreak detected in the Charco La Pava community in Bocas del Toro had their disease reversed after receiving treatment and follow-up from the Minsa medical team. of that region. 

The Minsa team in Bocas del Toro followed up by traveling every 15 days to visit those infected with the disease, providing them with medication, which has helped reduce cases in Bocas del Toro where the disease is endemic.

Vitelio Carrera, regional medical director of the Minsa in Bocas del Toro, explained that three of the 21 patients diagnosed with leishmaniasis abandoned treatment while the rest did comply and the skin-type disease was reversed. 

He indicated that there were a total of 68 people suspected of having the disease, but after the application of the Montenegro test, only 20 were positive in the community of Charco La Pava and another patient was detected in Almirante. 

The Minsa maintains continuous surveillance in several communities near Charco La Pava such as Valle del Rey, Changuinola Arriba and El Nance to monitor possible affected people.