In northern Sagaing Region, the hepatitis A virus is spreading among both civilians and resistance fighters in territories controlled by resistance forces, also known as liberated areas, according to residents of Sagaing Region and neighboring Kachin State.
Since the second week of October, liberated areas have seen a significant rise in jaundice and liver disease cases caused by the virus, with some villages reportedly seeing almost entire populations infected.
“The hepatitis A virus spreads really fast. Even if your immune system is a little weak, you can catch it. In some areas, entire villages have been infected. Both resistance fighters and villagers are getting sick. On average, about two out of every five people have been infected,” said a hepatitis patient.
Medicines are in short supply in the liberated areas, as the junta has strictly enforced blockades to stop the transport of medicine and food. On top of that, residents also face high prices and limited access to essential drugs.
Motorists in the region reported that checkpoints in junta-controlled areas are inspecting trucks heading to liberated areas and restricting the transport of medicines, fuel, solar panels and inverters, and other essential items.
“The junta has banned items like electronics, inverters, solar panels, and equipment for alluvial gold mining. If any of these are found in a car or truck, the driver is immediately arrested, and the vehicle is seized, no questions asked. People are even being physically beaten at checkpoints in Sagaing Region,” a driver told KNG.
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious virus, but unlike other liver diseases such as hepatitis B and C, it does not cause chronic illness. However, those infected can experience severe symptoms during the course of the illness, according to the Ministry of Health under the National Unity Government (NUG), the pro-democracy parallel government.
The virus spreads through the feces and blood of an infected person. It can also be transmitted through contaminated food and water, close contact with an infected person, eating raw or undercooked seafood, and even through sexual contact, the NUG Ministry of Health warned.
Dr. Jacob, chief medic of the combat and rescue unit of the Military Region 1, under the joint command of the NUG and Kachin Independence Army (KIA), said that the limited access to clean water in Sagaing Region is a major factor driving the spread of the disease.
“There aren’t many clean water sources in Sagaing, and in many villages, only a few households use fly-proof latrines. Most people go into the forest to relieve themselves, which raises the risk of disease,” he said.
There are no specific antiviral drugs to treat hepatitis A, but a strong immune system can help the body fight off the virus. For this reason, doctors recommend getting enough sleep and rest, eating a nutritious diet, and staying well hydrated.
Eating plenty of vegetables, staying hydrated, exercising, and using fly-proof toilets can help support recovery from hepatitis A, while maintaining good personal hygiene is also essential for preventing the disease.
