Panama might get off black list

Currently the Ministry of Health is trying to get an agreement with the WHO to exclude Panama permanently from the black list.

Dr Gladys Guerrero who heads the epidemiology department of the Ministry of Health said that her department is recommending that people traveling to or coming from countries that have the disease should get the vaccination against yellow fever as a way to keep Panama free of the illness and to protect the population.

Over the last month the government issued two announcements: one saying that anybody who was leaving Panama, must have the vaccination before they were allowed out of the country.

The second one, said that it was only recommended. This change caused a lot of confusion among travelers, who did not know what to do.

Guerrero said that the first measure taken was based on international sanitary regulations, but after asking WHO to review Panama’s situation with regards to the criteria utilized to put it on the risk list, it was decided to leave it as a recommendation only.

“We will work together with the airlines, travel agencies and tour operators etc. will disseminate the message that people going to the jungle areas should be vaccinated,” said Guerrero.