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Dengue cases are down, but 19 deaths keep the rainy season serious

Panama’s Ministry of Health (Minsa) epidemiological report through semana epidemiológica 37 (13–19 September 2026) shows 9,055 cumulative dengue cases so far in 2026, a 27.3% drop versus 11,790 in the same window of 2025. Hospitalizations are also lower (1,031 vs 1,129, about −9.8%). That is the good news. The hard news: Minsa still counts 19 dengue-associated deaths, and Colón (2,221) plus the Metropolitan region (2,202) together hold nearly half the national case load.

TVN, La Prensa, and Mi Diario carried the figures on 3 October 2026. Of the 9,055 cases: 7,861 without alarm signs, 1,141 with alarm signs, 53 classified as severe. National incidence for SE37 sat at 9.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Ages 10–14 are the hardest-hit group (1,028 cases; incidence 277.4 per 100,000).

Where it concentrates

Beyond Colón and Metro, the next regions are Chiriquí (989), Panamá Oeste (849), San Miguelito (739), Panamá Norte (555), and Bocas del Toro (482). Among corregimientos with heavy counts, Veracruz leads at 708, followed by Puerto Pilón (440), Sabanitas (323), Tocumen (318), and Burunga (291). Death geography (Minsa via TVN/La Prensa): Colón 4; Bocas del Toro and Los Santos 3 each; Metro and Chiriquí 2 each; San Miguelito, Coclé, Panamá Norte, Panamá Oeste, and Veraguas 1 each.

Bottom line for expats

Minsa says the year-on-year drop is not a reason to stop eliminating containers that hold standing water. Treat dengue as an ongoing household chore in rainy months, not a closed chapter. Empty and scrub buckets, plant saucers, bottle caps, and uncovered cisterns weekly. Cover and treat domestic water tanks. Seek care fast for fever with warning signs (severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding, extreme lethargy), especially for children and visitors new to Aedes zones. Colón-linked households and metro corregimientos on the list should be the most aggressive about yard and patio cleanup.

Sources

  • TVN - Dengue −27.3%; 9,055 casos; 19 muertes; detalle regional y corregimientos - 3 Oct 2026 - https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/dengue-panama-casos-disminuyen-27_1_2264093.html
  • La Prensa - Dengue 9,055; Colón y Metro; prevención Minsa - 3 Oct 2026 - https://www.prensa.com/sociedad/dengue-suma-9055-casos-en-panama-colon-y-el-area-metropolitana-concentran-la-mayor-cantidad/
  • Mi Diario - SE37 resumen Minsa (casos, hospitalizaciones, muertes) - Oct 2026 - https://www.midiario.com/nacionales/casos-de-dengue-en-panama-disminuyen-273-hasta-la-semana-epidemiologica-37/