Border News Agency
Kyauktaw, June 8
Seasonal influenza and dengue fever are reportedly spreading widely in areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA), according to local residents and public health workers in Arakan.
Health workers say the rise in cases has been identified through blood tests conducted on patients who visited clinics with symptoms of fever, confirming the presence of both seasonal flu and dengue infections.
“Right now, dengue fever and seasonal flu are spreading widely. Almost everyone coming to the clinics is found to have either dengue or the flu. It’s especially common in rural areas of Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun townships. The flu is quite severe – once infected, the body experiences joint and muscle pain, along with headaches. Since it’s caused by mosquitoes, people are advised to sleep under mosquito nets as a preventive measure,” a public health worker from Arakan told Border News Agency.
Residents of Arakan say that dengue fever and seasonal flu are more widespread in remote areas of townships such as Ponnagyun, Kyauk Taw, Mrauk-U, and Minbra.
They report that the outbreak is particularly severe in specific regions – including Taw Pyar Chaung area in Ponnakyun Township, Yoe Chaung Pyar area in Kyauktaw Township, Lay Myo Chaung area in Mrauk-U Township, and Phon Thar Chaung area in Minbra Township – where there is a growing need for medical aid and supplies.
Residents of Arakan say that the spread of dengue fever and seasonal flu in those areas is due to the heavy and prolonged monsoon rains and the high mosquito breeding rates in these conditions.
“I’ve been feeling unwell for three or four days now. At first, I thought it was just a regular fever because it kept going up and down. I bought medicine from a local shop, but it didn’t help. So, this morning I went to the clinic, and since there were many cases of dengue and flu, they tested me for dengue. The doctor said it’s seasonal flu – a severe one. He told me to take extra care because many people in Rakhine are currently getting sick. I was given an injection and some oral medicine,” a woman from Kyauktaw Township told Border News Agency.
Residents of Arakan say that those suffering from these illnesses are facing high expenses due to rising travel costs to clinics and increased prices of medicine.
They also report that since the start of the full-scale war in Arakan, the Myanmar junta has restricted the transport of medical supplies, leading to widespread shortages of essential medicines throughout the region.
As a result, a girl in her early teens from Ganan Taung Village in Ponnakyun Township reportedly died from dengue fever in the third week of May, according to her family members.
Meanwhile, the Arakan Public Health Department under the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government has been actively working on preventive measures against seasonal flu, hemorrhagic flu, and dengue fever, along with conducting public awareness campaigns.
However, due to a lack of human resources, limited medical technology, and poor transportation infrastructure, residents say that these health services cannot yet be fully provided across all areas.
