THE NUMBER of reported cases of Zika virus in Panama jumped from 53 to 65 on Thursday, February 18, and the first case outside the Guna Yala region was identified in Tocumen.

Deputy Health Minister, Miguel Mayo, said that investigations are  being conducted to determine whether the Tocumen patient  was recently in Guna Yala or  if the disease wasacquired in the metropolitan area.

The official said  that among the cases is one pregnant woman  who has shown no abnormalities.

He said that the zika comes as a mild illness with flu-like symptoms, low fever or conjunctivitis.

He called on young pregnant women to avoid visiting places of risk, of contracting the virus. disease.

President Juan Carlos Varela,  has asked the population in general, as well as mayors and representatives from across the country, to contribute to the elimination of breeding places of Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits zika, dengue and chikungunya.