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Published Date: 2012-02-22 03:26:07
Subject: PRO/MBDS> Diarrhea - Myanmar: Shan, RFI
Archive Number: 20120222.0433

DIARRHEA - MYANMAR: SHAN, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
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Date: Thu 16 Feb 2012
Source: Mizzima [in Myanmar, trans. Mod.YMA, edited]
http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/news/inside-burma/9011-2012-02-16-12-15-29.html Diarrheal infection is spreading in more than 40 villages of Pel Khong, Pin Laung and See Saing townships in southern Shan State and reported to be many associated deaths. The outbreak started in these 3 townships during January 2012. Most of the patients are children under 5 years old, and adults over 50 years old are also affected. According to hospital records from the township hospital, 3 children and 2 adults died in February 2012. Regarding to this outbreak, a doctor from Pel Khong township hospital mentioned that sick children have been vomiting and have had diarrhea with profuse yellow fluid. He thinks that the outbreak is caused by contaminated drinking water and the spread of outbreak is rather quick. Some of the patients died in the villages without seeking treatment in hospitals. During February 2012, one child died in Lung Kar village, Pel Khong township; and one child and one 70-year-old lady died in See Saing township, according to a mobile health service which is providing help in these 3 townships. On 3 Feb 2012, a 7-year-old girl died of diarrhea in Tee Yee village, Pel Khong township, followed by many children falling sick in the village. The local villagers think that it was caused by bathing stream water from Te Jit Coal Factory nearby. "When we bathe the stream water, many people have pruritus. Now, there are more and more diarrhea cases. So, villagers said that it is due to the contaminated waste water from the Te Jit Coal Factory. Many castles in that village also have diarrhea," says a staff person from the mobile health service. Te Jit Coal Factory is situated at 7 miles from Tee Yee village. It was started since 2005. The ashes, coal water, filthy waste and fumes from this factory caused pruritus in more than 20 000 villages in early 2011. The health care workers from the district hospital are providing treatment for diarrhea cases in these areas. However, the people from remote areas without access to health care services need to treat themselves with traditional medicine. [Byline: Kyaw Kha] -- Communicated by: PRO/MBDS <promed-mbds@promedmail.org> [The article above reports diarrhea outbreaks which affected more than 40 villages of Pel Khong, Pin Laung and See Saing townships in southern Shan State. The exact number of affected cases was not provided. The contaminated water is suspected to be the cause of these outbreaks. As these outbreaks spread in a large geographical area in an extended time span, it makes this moderator think that these outbreaks might have some other causes. Water samples and biological specimen examination might help to pinpoint the causes. PRO/MBDS highly appreciate any information from knowledgeable source on the causes of the diarrhea outbreaks in southern Shan State, Myanmar. For a map of Myanmar with administrative divisions, see http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/myanmar.pdf. A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Myanmar can be seen at http://healthmap.org/r/1oak. - Mod.QCN]

See Also


Foodborne illness - Myanmar: Yangon, RFI 20120113.0093
2011
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Foodborne illness - Myanmar (02): Mandalay, Staphylococcal 20111103.3269
Foodborne illness - Myanmar: Mandalay, RFI 20111012.3059]
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