The confirmation was made by the Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies through laboratory tests applied according to established epidemiological protocols.

Earlier, health authorities had also confirmed the first imported case of the disease in a Dutch citizen who arrived in Panama through the town of Guabito (Bocas del Toro province), on the border with Costa Rica, after traveling through several countries in the region.

According to the official report, the second case is a 19-year-old woman who presented symptoms consistent with measles, including fever, skin rash, cough, and runny nose.

The patient received medical attention at a private hospital and is currently under clinical monitoring and epidemiological surveillance. Following notification of the case, the Rapid Response teams of the Metropolitan Health Region immediately activated control measures to prevent potential infections.

The Ministry of Health added that, as part of the preventive measures, a targeted vaccination campaign has already been carried out on individuals who had contact with the traveler.

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