H1N1 death toll in Myanmar climbs to 63
Eleven Media/Asia News Network
YANGON — The number of H1N1 death toll in Myanmar has reached 63 as of July 19 with Yangon topping the list with 50 deaths, according to the figures from the Ministry of Health and Sports.
Out of 216 patients with Influenza-like illness, 39 patients were found to have A (H1N1), 12, A (H3N2) and eight, Influenza B. Out of 584 Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) patients, 249 patients were found to have A (H1N1), 11 patients, A (H3N2) and 11 patients, Influenza B.
An official of the Central Infectious Diseases Control Division under the Public Health Department said: “A total of 763 patients conducted the laboratory tests. There were 329 laboratory-confirmed patients.”
Union Minister for Health and Sports has directed officials to speed up its efforts to carry out health knowledge dissemination and prevention and control of disease in the affected regions like Yangon, Ayeyawady, Rakhine, Nay Pyi Taw, Kachin, Bago, Magway and Mon.
Normally, the number of deaths caused by seasonal influenza is not high. But the high death toll among the people with chronic diseases, the elderly and child. The death toll among the people aged between 15 and 65 is the highest, accounting for 49 per cent of the total number of deaths while the death toll among the patients with chronic diseases reached 44 or 78.6 per cent. The late hospitalization may increase the chance of death, according to the ministry.
The ministry is working on the knowledge dissemination, the formation of rapid response teams in regions and districts and more efforts for disease control measures by connecting relevant health emergency management departments via online.
