ANOTHER  62 patients  were  admitted to Panama hospitals and two mor died  in the 24 hours before a Ministry of Health (MoH) press conference on Friday, June 10. Three of the new cases are  in intensive care.

This brings to  547 the number of people hospitalized: 213 in MoH facilities   314 in the Social Security Fund (CSS), and the rest in private medical centers. Of these, 57 remain in intensive care.

The death toll also rose to 12 (seven women and five men), said Lourdes Garcia, director of Epidemiology MoH.

The two new deaths are men, one living in the metropolitan area and one in Panama West, where there was no previous record of deaths. That brings the total of deaths since Monday to 7.

Garcia said that 50% are people 60 years or older and all had some risk factor. The other half were between 23 and 82 years and not had these factors.

The deceased came from Cocle (1), Colon (1), Panama Oeste (1), metropolitan region (5) and San Miguelito (4).

Itza Barahona de Mosca, Director General of Health, said that the country is facing an "unusual" situation in the behavior of Influenza, an acute viral inflammatory infectious disease that can be caused by influenza virus A, B or C. However, he stressed that due to the rainy season circulate other respiratory viruses are circulating.

Signs and symptoms of influenza include fever, headache, muscle aches, cough and runny. The duration is between three and seven days.

She  called on the population to remain calm and to take into account the preventive measures that have been spreading.

Vaccines are available for free at all Social Security and MoH health facilities. Private clinics charge from $130-$50

She said  that no wanted to deny the vaccine to anyone, however, the priority is to the  vulnerable (under five years, over 60, pregnant  people those  with chronic diseases and health workers.

The conference also reiterated that classes will resume on Monday  June13 next, after the  school break, despite the influenza  health alert.

The Ministry of Education has informed  parents that they will be called immediately if students in the classroom have symptoms, to take their child or children home.