Hantavirus disease – Panama

Hantavirus disease has been reported in Panama, with the first reported case on 4 January 2019. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the current status of the outbreak is ongoing.

As of the latest report, there are 103 confirmed cases of hantavirus disease in Panama. The WHO reports that all 103 cases are confirmed, with no probable or suspected cases. Unfortunately, there have been 4 reported deaths, resulting in a case fatality ratio of 3.9%. This means that approximately 3.9% of people who contracted the disease have died.

The outbreak is currently limited to Panama, with no reported cases in other countries. There is no information available on any vessel or aircraft outbreaks.

The public health response to the outbreak is being led by the Panama Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). For the latest updates on the outbreak, please visit the WHO Disease Outbreak News website at https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news.