Pedrito Calvo returns to Havana after health emergency in Panama

Cuban musician Pedrito Calvo, the iconic voice of the orchestra Los Van Van, has returned to Havana following a health emergency during international travel. The 84-year-old artist was traveling from Havana to Cali, Colombia, when he lost consciousness during a transit stop in Panama on September 25.

While initial reports suggested a cerebrovascular accident, Calvo’s family and medical updates clarified that the episode was attributed to an intestinal virus. Although he experienced temporary loss of speech and mobility, medical scans showed no cerebrovascular damage. After receiving specialized care in a Panama City clinic, he was discharged and has since been reunited with family and colleagues in Cuba.

The Cuban Ministry of Culture and the Instituto Cubano de la Música (ICM) monitored the situation closely, coordinating with the Cuban Embassy in Panama to ensure the artist received necessary medical attention.