Following the floods in Rakhine State people are starting to suffer from health problems including at least 45 people with skin problems in Tharsay New Village in Ayathayma Village Tract, Mrauk Oo Township said local sources.
The problems surfaced after they bathed in village ponds that had floodwater running into them for many days. The affected villagers said that their skin erupted in lumps and was very itchy.
Ko Tun Tun of Mrauk Oo Township Rescue Organisation for Flood Victims said: "The villagers started reporting about the skin disease last week. The village heads came to our office with samples of pond water and photographs of the affected residents. We have sent those samples to the township doctors. A survey in the affected villages is also planned for next week. Meanwhile, we have sent clean water and medicine to those villages.
Dr Khun Maung Ore told Narinjara News that the authorities would ensure that the pond water is tested and he agreed that the villagers' skin problems came after they bathed in the floodwater filled ponds.
Reliable sources have told Narinjara News that until now only one of the two flood affected ponds has been cleaned by the authorities.
There are 31 households and about 150 people in Tharsay New Village.
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
