Agency) -- Rapid and widespread infection rate of new influenza A/H1N1 in Myanmar, especially since the beginning of this year, has prompted control and prevention measures in the country with the World Health Organization (WHO) offering to vaccinate over 4 million Myanmar population free of charge.The influenza has struck across Myanmar from Chin state's Tiddim township and Shan state's Kyaukme to Yangon division's six townships of Bahan, Tamway, Dagon Myothit (north and east), Shwepyita, Hlaingtharya and Hmawby in merely two months.
As the first batch, the WHO will donate 900,000 anti-H1N1 vaccine, while the second batch 3.5 million's and the vaccination will be carried out on people starting next month, WHO National Consultant confirmed.
The vaccine could guard against the virus for one year, the WHO medical expert said.
According to a compiled statistical report of local media, a total of 126 people were infected with new influenza A/H1N1 in Myanmar as of Feb. 20 this year since the outbreak of the disease in the country in June last year.
In 2009, 69 people in Myanmar contracted with A/H1N1, while in the first two months of 2010, another 57 were victimized.
There is no flu death cases reported in the country.
According to the Yangon division administration, out of the 126 flu patients, 109 have been discharged from hospitals.
There remains 17 such patients, who are confirmed with carrying the virus, are still receiving treatment in the hospitals.
On the other hand, disease control measures are being taken with added momentum by central and local authorities.
Myanmar reported the first case of new flu A/H1N1 in the country on June 27 last year with a 13-year-old girl who developed the symptoms after coming back home from Singapore a day earlier.
Of the 69 influenza A/H1N1 cases exposed in 2009, 42 arrived back from abroad, 13 were infected from families, 8 from schools while one from other, according to the health department.
In the beginning of 2010, four people were first found infected with influenza A/H1N1 in a village of Falam, Myanmar's western Chin state.
The influenza was discovered with them when a disease control team of the Health Ministry inspected the village then.
Later in February, eight children were found infected with new influenza A/H1N1 in a suburban township of Dagon Myothit-North in Yangon.
More patients were reported with the virus in the following days of the month in other said townships.
All these patients were kept in quarantine and were undergoing treatment at special hospitals and measures are being taken by scanning those who are in contact with the patients.
In the wake of the status, the heath department has urged the people to follow the preventive measures outlined against the virus in order to avoid the spread of virus in the public and to take part in the campaign to prevent the disease.
The authorities also advised all private clinics in the country to report or transfer all flu-suspected patients, who returned from abroad, to local state-run hospitals or health departments for increased surveillance.
Source :http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3902686
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