At least 41 people nationwide have died from the H1N1 virus in the past month, more than died in the entirety of 2017, when a major outbreak claimed 38 lives, the Ministry of Health reported today.
Since the first fatalities were reported in late June, 36 more people have succumbed to the disease, with 170 confirmed cases nationwide.
Thus far, Yangon appears to be bearing the brunt of the outbreak, with 33 of the total 41 deaths.
The Irrawaddy region trails far behind with three deaths, while the Bago and Sagaing regions in central Myanmar have suffered two deaths each, and Mon State has one fatality.
H1N1, or the swine flu, presents itself like the common flu, with such symptoms as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, body aches and, in severe cases, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
The majority of fatalities have occurred amongst the elderly, the very young, and those with pre-existing health complications such as diabetes, hypertension, heart and respiratory diseases.
In recent years, Yangon has experienced a population swell as job opportunities attracted migrants from rural areas. Many live in the outskirts of town in densely packed squatter communities with limited access to clean water and air, often in improvised structures that fall apart during the windy and rainy months of the monsoon.
“Diseases are easily transmitted in close living quarters, and this is especially true in Yangon, where we have seen the most number of cases and fatalities,” Dr. Phyu Phyu Aye, director of the Department of Public Health, told Coconuts Yangon this afternoon.
Health officials have been scrambling to step up monitoring efforts across the country, leading to the creation of monitoring task forces in hospitals, clinics, border entries and community centers.
Authorities are urging the public to get to the doctor when they or those close to them start exhibiting flu-like symptoms.
To avoid spreading the virus, members of the public are also being urged to avoid crowded areas, wash their hands frequently, and cover their mouths and noses when coughing and sneezing.
Read more stories from around Yangon at Coconuts.co/Yangon.
