First shipment of A/H1N1 tests arrived to Panama

PANAMA. The Atlanta Control of Diseases Center has sent to Panama the first shipment of chemicals needed to test for the A/H1NI virus or swine flu, that has spread to over 20 countries.

The Gorgas Institute, that has been carrying out the preliminary tests, will now be able to determine results in less than 24 hours.

The government has imposed a state of health alert to facilitate the implementation of measures to prevent and control the disease and give the Health Ministry all the support it needs.

The Health authorities announced that the country also received 5,000 doses of the antiviral drug Tamiflu,from the World Health Organization. It is the medication used to treat the swine flu