Overview

• Puerto Rico health officials declared an influenza epidemic with at least 25,900 cases reported since July, causing 42 deaths and more than 900 hospitalizations.
• Youngsters aged 0 to 19 are the most affected with more than 13,600 reported cases.
• Despite the healthcare crisis, officials claim there are plenty of vaccines, tests and treatments available on the island.
• Local healthcare system, which serves about half of the population, has been impacted by staff shortages and prolonged wait times due to insufficient federal funding, economic crisis, and damages from the hurricanes.
• Researcher Nelson Varas-Diaz recognizes the struggle is primarily due to debt, the economic crisis, and historic privatization of the healthcare system, resulting in patients waiting six to eight months for a specialist appointment.