Two dead from H1N1

July 25, 2017

Public urged to follow precautionary advice

Two more people, one of them a 29-year-old pregnant woman, died after contracting H1N1 influenza in Yangon, on the day the government confirmed that more than a dozen people had contracted the virus known as swine flu, officials said yesterday.

Health officials said a 25-year-old man and a 29-year-old pregnant woman died on Monday after being admitted with what appeared to be pneumonia symptoms to separate hospitals in Yangon. Lab tests later showed that the two died of H1N1 virus infection.

“The two people who died are not the three patients who are receiving treatment at the hospital,” said Dr Aye Ko Ko, Medical Superintendent of the Yangon General Hospital.

The 25-year-old man was taken to Yangon General Hospital on Friday and died at 2 pm on Monday,
according to a statement released by the Ministry of Health and Sports yesterday. The 29-year old pregnant woman sought treatment at the Central Women’s Hospital on Monday and was transferred to Yangon General Hospital, where she died that afternoon.  Three patients at Yangon General Hospital are being treated for Seasonal Influenza A-H1N1 infections. Their conditions are improving, according to the statement.

According to the Ministry of Health and Sports, 10 Myanmar residents contracted H1N1 in Matupi, Chin State, in July.  A 6-year-old boy died of the illness, prompting many to don medical masks to protect themselves from contracting the illness.

The Ministry of Health and Sports  held an emergency meeting on Monday in  Nay Pyi Taw on the same day it announced preventive measures.  The government called for calm after it was confirmed that a total of 13 patients were confirmed to have contracted H1N1 influenza in Myanmar.

The Ministry of Health and Sports urged the people to follow the instructions of the ministry to prevent infection and death.

In a separate announcement, the Ministry said yesterday that an outbreak of bird flu had occurred in Dawei, Taninthayi Region.  More than 1,800 chickens were culled after the virus was detected last month at the farm in Dawei, 370 km southeast of Yangon.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar