The Ministry of Health has intensified the preparation of its hospital network in the face of the risk of imported measles cases, due to greater global circulation of the disease and increased international mobility, especially among nationals who will travel to Mexico, the United States, and Canada for the World Cup.
Currently, in Panama, three imported cases of the disease have been confirmed. Meanwhile, between January and mid-May of this year, 10,920 cases have been reported in Mexico, Canada has notified 1,018 cases, and the United States 1,952 cases, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
During that period, 184,489 cases of measles in 155 countries have been reported, according to data collected by the Ministry of Health (MINSA). The increase in global circulation, due to the soccer event, is the central argument of the contingency plan activated by the Panamanian authorities.
Hospital infrastructure is being evaluated to verify immediate response capacity. (MINSA)
Humberto Vanegas, from the Ministry of Health’s Health Service Provision Directorate, reported that the health system is executing a national contingency plan to guarantee a timely and coordinated response to possible suspected cases.
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According to the MINSA, the strategy seeks to strengthen the hospital response capacity in the face of external events. The preparation includes an assessment of hospital infrastructure carried out by national and regional health directorates to verify the capacity for immediate response.
That review also aims to ensure that medical and nursing staff have the necessary resources for patient care.
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Vanegas explained that the operational review is already underway. “Two weeks ago we met with all hospital directors and regional directors to review the installed capacities”. Mass vaccination has so far been an effective measure to combat measles. (MINSA)
The physician added that “we are taking advantage of the experience gained during the COVID-19 pandemic and adopting the necessary measures to ensure an efficient and coordinated response to any eventuality”.
The MINSA highlighted that all hospitals in the country remain in an active preparation phase, although the measles situation remains under surveillance and control in the national territory. The planned response includes the enablement and adaptation of spaces intended for the safe isolation of patients with suspected cases of the disease.
These spaces seek to avoid contact between suspected cases and other users of health services. According to the health entity, this measure is part of the hospital containment scheme prepared for a possible detection of new infections.
The authorities also strengthened epidemiological surveillance systems and triage processes in emergency rooms. The objective, according to what was reported, is to identify early on people with symptoms compatible with measles and with recent travel history. Strengthening hospital response capacity to foreign events is the Panamanian strategy. (MINSA).
The ministry reiterated that it strengthened staff training through the updating of protocols, biosafety manuals, and care procedures. For this update, the system took as a reference the experiences gained during previous health emergencies.
The call from the authorities to the population focuses on reviewing and completing immunization schedules, especially during the coming weeks.
Vaccination continues to be the main tool to prevent the disease, authorities indicate.
Vanegas underscored that prevention line with a direct message to the population: “the best tool to prevent measles continues to be vaccination. Panama has managed to maintain control of this disease thanks to high immunization coverage, so we urge the population to go to health centers and verify their vaccination schedule”.
The combination of permanent surveillance, early detection, isolation of suspects and strengthening of immunization coverage is the response that Panama maintains active in the face of an international outbreak that already reaches 155 nations, according to PAHO.
