HEALTH

A/H1N1 update

05-14-2009 | MARIJULIA PUJOL LLOYD

mpujolstar@laestrella.com.pa

Panama Star PANAMA. Hospitals of the Social Security are restricting the hours in which friends and relatives can visit patients.

The National Services Social Security director, Dr Rubén Dario Lopez said that visits will be restricted to one a day and only two visitors to a patient.

Lopez said that these strict measures are necessary to prevent the spread of the A/H1N1 flu in hospitals.

The director added that people with chronic diseases and children should not visit hospitals, unless it is for a medical reason.

Meanwhile, in public health centers dentists have been advised that they should only see emergency cases.

The Ministry of Health distributed leaflets in Calidonia and Central Avenue about how to prevent the A/H1N1 flu as a way to educate the population about the symptoms of the disease and the precaution that must be taken. Until 6:00 p.m. yesterday there had not been any new cases of the A/H1N1 flu. So far 29 people have been infected by the virus. That number is expected to increase.