Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Outbreak Affecting Indigenous Children

[Moderator_02]

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9 children die from whooping cough

Vaccinations forbidden

Posted 01/02/2019

 

At least nine children have died from whooping cough in the Ngäbe Buglé comarca, where part of the community belongs to the Mama Tata religion, opposed to vaccination.

Itza Barahona de Mosca, director general of the Ministry of  Health(Minsa) told TVN Noticias aid, that during January has been working on the prevention and control of the circulation of the pertussis bacterium in the district of Santa Catalina, however, there are hard to reach points that have required the collaboration with the National Aeronaval Service (Senan).

Barahona de Mosca said vaccination is important and he also antibiotics. He has asked the population not to disperse because in some cases they hide and this does not allow them to be vaccinated. He added that they work together with the Vice Ministry The situation worries health  authorities as  There have been 85 reported cases of pertussis in this region, At the national level, Minsa  ensures that people are vaccinated against a whooping cough, and s they ask the indigenous population to cooperate

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/9-children-die-from-whooping-cough

[Keith Woolford]

On 2/2/2019 at 8:15 AM, Moderator_02 said:

At least nine children have died from whooping cough in the Ngäbe Buglé comarca, part of the community belongs to the Mama Tata religion, opposed to vaccination

Nine needless, preventable deaths.

After reading this article, it's difficult to believe that educated people exist who are against the immunization of children who cannot speak for themselves.

[Moderator_02]

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Whooping cough deaths climb to 11

Minsa Press conference

Posted 20/02/2019

 

The number of child deaths due to whooping cough in the Ngäbe Buglé region has risen to 11 said The Ministry of Health (Minsa), on Wednesday, February 11.

So far 95 cases of pertussis have been confirmed in the comarca, of which 84 are in recovery.   Whooping cough is an infectious contagious disease of the upper respiratory tract, caused by a bacterium and is preventable with vaccination.  Its appearance is possible at any age, but children under five are the most affected. 

Before theis outbreak, the Minsa recommended the population: go to the nearest health facility to review and update their vaccination schedule, especially pregnant women and children under five years. And, in the presence of symptoms, you should go to the nearest health facility for proper care.

The national director of Health, Itza Barahona de Mosca, did not rule out an increase in the figures of children killed.

He stressed that the area where the outbreak of the disease was recorded is difficult to access, which is only reached by plane or walking, and that the populations are scattered. other.

The Ministry is waiting for the last health team that entered  the mountain range to return from a  search to apply vaccines or antibiotics.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/whooping-cough-deaths-climb-to-11

[Moderator_02]

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Whooping cough cases spreading

 

Posted 21/02/2019

 

The Ministry of Health (Minsa) has detected eleven cases of pertussis (whooping cough) outside the Ngäbe Buglé region, two of which have died.

The eleven cases were detected in Panama Metro (seven), East Panama (two) and Coclé (two). The two deaths were recorded in Panama Metro and Coclé.

These cases are added to the 95 that have been detected in the Ngabe Bugle Comarca since December, of which 84 are in recovery and 11 have died.

Health authorities report indicated, at a press conference, that they are “applying all measures of control and prevention”' of the disease.

According to the authorities, there are “geographical, climatic, cultural, religious and high mobility difficulties”' to counteract the outbreak of pertussis in the region.

Itza Barahona de Mosca, general director of Health, said that pertussis, being a bacterium, is more difficult to counteract than a disease caused by a virus. That is why, said the doctor, there are cases throughout the country,

He said that the cultural difficulties they have had are something that happens, not only in Panama but in the world because there are anti-vaccine groups. However, in the Ngabe Bugle Comarca, they work with traditional indigenous authorities to overcome these barriers.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/whooping-cough-cases-spreading

[Moderator_02]

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2nd health strike kills 4 in poorest  community

 

Posted 25/02/2019

 

The second epidemiological outbreak  in three months in Panama’s poorest community has claimed another four lives on top of the 11 have who died from whooping cough  in the Ngäbe Buglé comarca  The enteric fever syndrome, characterized by fever and gastrointestinal symptoms has been identified by the Ministry of Health I (Minsa)I in the  comarca.

The  Ministry of reported that they are currently investigating the family outbreak of the syndrome  in the community of Quebrada Negra, Piedra Roja district, Kankintú district, which due to the seriousness of the cases has caused four deaths, of which three are children (two, 3-year-olds and one 7-year-old.) The other is an adult.

"Both with the outbreak of whooping cough and the enteric fever syndrome, Minsa has taken the necessary measures to avoid an increase in cases." Said a Ministry statement which also reported four cases of people hospitalized, two minors and two adults.

Piedra Roja is a community of 3,883 people and 97.3% of the population lives in poverty., and there are only two Minsa health facilities, according to a Report on Poverty and Inequality in Panama of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the World Bank published in May 2017.

The Minister of Health, Miguel Mayo, said that in all cases the entity, through the epidemiological surveillance system, acted immediately and took the necessary measures to prevent an increase in cases.

Currently, Minsa officials are monitoring patients and close relatives, and laboratory tests applied by health personnel were sent to the Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies to investigate if the source of the outbreak is due to viral or bacterial causes, reports La Prensa.

Ricardo Miranda , president of the Council of Ngäbe Youth, said that the situation that occurs in the region is a product of oblivion by governments.

He said that health authorities should not wait for alerts to occur and then tour and vaccinate, but should constantly be in the mountain ranges and areas of difficult access.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/2nd-health-strike-kills-4-in-poorest-community