Panamanian authorities reacted on Thursday with calm after the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its A/H1N1 flu alert level to the phase six, formally declaring that the widely spreading A/H1N1 flu has developed into a global pandemic.

Panamanian Health Minister Rosario Turner said that Panama had taken sanitary measures suggested by the WHO to contain the spread of the A/H1N1 virus.

"In deed, Panama has worked on this issue. We have given all the necessary medicines like oseltamivir to different health centers in the country," Turner said.

According to the minister, health departments in Panama will continue reinforcing its efforts to avoid the spread and complications of the flu.

By far, Panama has not registered any deaths caused by the A/H1N1 virus.

"From that perspective, we must not only have controlling measures, but also other measures to avoid complications of the respiratory diseases," Turner said.

Panama has reported 221 confirmed flu cases, including 115 male patients and 106 female patients. Most of the infected have showed light epidemic symptoms.

(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2009)