The number of patients infected with swine flu in Arakan State has reached six between January and 22 July this year, according to the Department of Public Health in Arakan State.

The department confirmed that six of out of 57 suspected patients are infected with H1N1 and there are no reports of deaths, said Dr Soe Win Paing, assistant director of the Department of Public Health.

“The lab test for 27 people proved positive for seasonal influenza. Some are found H3N2 positive or Influencer B positive. Six of them are H1N1 positive,” he said.

There are four people from Sittwe and one each from Mann Aung and Gwa townships. The seasonal influenza broke out in Sittwe, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Gwa, Taunggup and Mann Aung townships.

The spread of H1N1 usually occurs during the rainy and winter season in Myanmar. Dr Thiha, head of the Department of Public Health in Arakan State said that preparedness should be made to prevent swine flu because it is highly infectious.

“We held ta talk to raise public awareness of the disease. We just want to people to know how they can avoid the flu,” Dr Thiha said.

The Department of Public Health in Arakan State on Tuesday provided a public awareness campaign in Sittwe to let know people know how to prevent the H1N1 seasonal influenza from spreading.

Public awareness campaigns are being provided in both rural and urban areas in Arakan State, the department said.