Residents of Mogaung Town in Kachin State said they are increasingly concerned about the risk of infectious diseases after floodwaters swept large numbers of used syringes through residential areas following recent flooding.

The syringes have been found mainly in Ywathit Ward, an area widely known as one of the town's largest hubs for drug trafficking and use. Residents said the needles, believed to have been discarded by drug users, were carried by floodwaters, raising fears that people exposed to the contaminated water could contract infectious diseases.

A female resident of Mogaung said the sight of used syringes floating in the floodwater alarmed many people.

"Of course we're worried. We're afraid of getting pricked by the needles. Last year, one of our cattle accidentally stepped on a syringe and was injured so badly that we couldn't use it anymore, so we had to sell it. There are organizations in Mogaung that hand out free syringes to help prevent diseases from spreading among drug users. That does help reduce infections, but if they're distributing 100 syringes a day, it would be much better if they could also collect all 100 of them afterward,” she said.

With residents already worried about possible outbreaks of waterborne diseases caused by the flooding, they said the discarded syringes drifting through floodwaters have become another potential public health threat.

A doctor warned that anyone who comes into contact with the syringes or is accidentally pricked by one could face not only skin infections but also the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.

"Flooding already raises concerns about all kinds of infectious diseases. These are used syringes discarded by drug users, so if they're contaminated, they could spread whatever infections those users have, including skin diseases, diarrheal illnesses, liver diseases, and even HIV, to other people,” he said.

The doctor also cautioned that older adults and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to such infections.

Meanwhile, residents said drug dealers and users have continued trading and consuming narcotics despite the ongoing flooding.

According to locals, Ywathit Ward remains the town's busiest area for drug trafficking and use, where groups of around 20 to 30 people regularly gather in the mornings and evenings to buy, sell, and use drugs.