As of June 6, 2020, there were 164 dengue patients and 2 related deaths were recorded in Mawlamyine and Paung Townships. According to the Mon State Public Health Department, these are communities with the highest numbers of dengue patients.
Mawlamyine has 52 dengue patients while Paung has 43 patients. These figures are much higher than other townships.
“Dengue took place mostly in Mawlamyine but there was no death. The two deaths were from Paung and they were an 11-month and an 8-year old. Seasonal flu mostly takes place in crowded areas. The numbers are much smaller that last year but now the dengue season has started,” said Dr Than Lwin Aung, the Deputy State Director of the Mon State Public Health Department.
Dengue fever occurs in June, July and August during the rainy season. According to the Deputy State Director using “abate” as a larvicide to kill mosquito larvae, and producing mosquito-repellent smoke are the best ways to prevent exposure to dengue.
“Currently we’ve been doing “mosquito larvae kill operations” where most cases were found. We can’t gather people due to COVID-19 so our health workers have been announcing education for dengue fever prevention via loudspeakers,” said Dr Than Lwin Aung.
Schools are preparing to open in the third week of July and the Public Health Department is busy cooperating with the Department of Basic Education to fight against both COVID-19 and season flu/dengue.
“We have enough facilities for dengue treatment but hospitals and clinics don’t have sufficient numbers of dengue testing kits,” said the Deputy State Director.
Last year, there were 1,162 dengue patients and 4 related deaths recorded in Mon State, by the State Public Health Department.
