Coordination meeting: Meeting on respiratory infectious diseases held

A coordination meeting on the prevention and control of respiratory infectious diseases commonly occurring during the winter season was held at the Ministry of Health, Office No. (4) in Nay Pyi Taw on January 7.

The meeting was led by Union Minister for Health, Professor Dr. Thet Khine Win.In his opening remarks, the Union Minister for Health highlighted that respiratory infectious diseases are common during the winter season, and that there have been reports of increased outbreaks of respiratory diseases in some neighboring countries.

According to recent reports, seasonal influenza (Influenza A H1N1) has been the most prevalent among these diseases. Other respiratory pathogens such as rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, mycoplasma pneumonia, and Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) have also been detected. Among these pathogens, HMPV, which is not a new disease like COVID-19, was first discovered in the Netherlands in 2001, and in the United States in 2008.

It was later reported in China in 2003 and has been spreading worldwide. Therefore, HMPV is a disease that has been around for a while, unlike COVID-19, and Myanmar experienced cases of it in 2014 and 2015 according to research conducted by the National Health Laboratory and the Department of Medical Research.

The Union Minister emphasized that outbreaks of respiratory diseases, including HMPV, have been closely monitored, and research data from 2023 and 2024 show that HMPV infections were detected in patients at Out Patients Department (OPD) facilities.

HMPV infections have been seasonal, and it can be assumed that the population may have some level of immunity. The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the situation and regularly receives updates from international and regional sources, including the World Health Organization (WHO), to enhance the disease surveillance process.

The Union Minister assured that there was no need for undue public concern and called on the public to follow the Ministry's guidelines and cooperate with health measures.In addition, Deputy Minister of Health, Professor Dr. Aye Tun, addressed the public and emphasized the importance of ensuring that accurate health information reaches the public.

He called for preparedness in disease testing and treatment services to be set up in advance. The meeting also included presentations and recommendations from representatives of the Department of Public Health, the Department of Medical Services, and the Department of Medical Research. They discussed the ongoing efforts in disease prevention and control, as well as future plans. The Union Minister concluded the meeting with a final statement, and the coordination meeting was successfully concluded.