El Niño poses health risks in Panama, officials warn

Panama is bracing for the dual impacts of the El Niño phenomenon, which forecasts suggest will bring either excessive rainfall in Caribbean regions or insufficient precipitation in Pacific areas. This climatic variability is raising significant public health concerns, particularly regarding the potential spread of diseases.

Health authorities are closely monitoring the risk of dengue fever, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Both extreme heat and increased rainfall can accelerate the mosquito's life cycle and create breeding grounds. High temperatures speed up mosquito development, while heavy rains lead to water accumulation in containers, providing ideal environments for mosquito larvae.

Epidemiologists are emphasizing the critical period ahead, noting that historical data shows a statistical increase in dengue cases during August and September. This heightened risk is compounded by potential difficulties in accessing safe drinking water. Flooding can contaminate water sources, and drought periods can severely limit water availability.

"When there are floods, we know that respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions increase. In the case of drought, we know that the main difficulty is access to water," explained Yelkis Gil, national director of health. The Ministry of Health is working to ensure the functionality of adequate wells to mitigate water scarcity issues.

In response, the Ministry of Health is intensifying mosquito breeding site control operations. They urge the public to dedicate at least 10 minutes daily to inspect their homes and surroundings for potential water collection points. Measures include eliminating, overturning, or covering any containers that could hold water, and maintaining clean yards to curb mosquito proliferation.