Veraguas, Panama, reports 106 dengue cases and one death; schools targeted for prevention

Veraguas province in Panama is facing a serious dengue fever outbreak, with health authorities reporting 106 confirmed cases and one fatality in 2026. The escalating situation has prompted the Ministry of Health (Minsa) to ramp up prevention strategies across the region.

A key focus of the Minsa's current campaign is engaging the student population. Through initiatives like an oratory contest, children are being empowered to promote messages about eliminating mosquito breeding grounds and preventing dengue. Regional Minsa director Xavier Torres highlighted the effectiveness of involving young people in these public health efforts.

"If we reach the home with the children, we reach the community, and it is very important that from a very young age they set an example for the population, for the older ones," Torres stated. He emphasized that the core message is disease prevention through cleanliness and the eradication of potential mosquito habitats.

Health officials are reiterating that the fight against dengue begins at the household level. Residents are urged to diligently eliminate any standing water in containers, as these are prime breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary vector for dengue transmission. The intensified prevention measures aim to curb the spread of the virus and prevent further loss of life.

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If we reach the home with the children, we reach the community, and it is very important that from a very young age they set an example for the population, for the older ones. The example we want to bring is the prevention of the disease through that everything is clean and the elimination of mosquito breeding sites.