“We went there with a speedboat as soon as we received the report. We arrived around noon and we opened up a clinic. Sixty-four patients came to seek medical treatment. Among them, 35 people were suspected of [being infected with dengue fever],” said Dr San Linn. “We found the dengue fever virus in 12 people. I don’t know the full number of dengue fever patients at the moment.”

Dengue fever is flu-like virus spread by mosquitos. Typical symptoms may include: fever, exhaustion, headache, muscle and joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. A more severe form, dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause organ damage, severe internal bleeding, dehydration and potentially, death.

Dr San Linn said 11 health workers including him are working in cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to monitor the outbreak in Belya Village.

He added that none of the cases have turned fatal, and he expects the 12 patients will recover within a week or so. Local authorities have fumigated the village in order to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.

A visiting monk who was holding a donation ceremony at Belya Village was the one to initially report the outbreak to health workers.

“When I arrived at the donation ceremony I saw three or four people per household were sick. They couldn’t work. The poor people couldn’t travel to the city to receive medical treatment. That’s why I asked for assistance from the township,” said Sayadaw U Ya Thu.

Belya Village has over 150 households and a population of around 700 people.
 
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by Laignee Barron