Seasonal Influenza: 30 Died From H1N1 As Of July 7

The fatalities rate caused by seasonal influenza A (H1N1) has reached to 30 in Myanmar as of July 7th this year, according to the data of Ministry of Health and Sports.

During January to 7th July 2019, 488 total cases of influenza like illness and severe acute respiratory infection were tested for influenza at Nation Health Laboratory. Among them, 145 cases were confirmed as H1N1 cases, and 103 of its are experiencing in Yangon.

Representative, WHO Myanmar, Dr. Stephan Paul Jost said “We have now currently I think 145 cases of these detected influenza-like or severe acute respiratory infections that are positive for different sub-types of influenza and 30 so far are fatal that is accessed 7th July so as of yesterday. Data always is slight delay in that naturally for confirmation and for checking and that being actually updated every day but currently that is very stands as of yesterday it’s 30 fatalities and 145 cases in total’.

Influenza season in Myanmar is coinciding with monsoon season. WHO country representative assured that compared to the earliest seasons in 2018 and 2017 as far as Myanmar is concerned, the H1N1 has started likely earlier this year.

Representative, WHO Myanmar, Dr. Stephan Paul Jost said “It’s started likely earlier this year. I think that is the main difference so far. And it’s too early to say whether this will be more or less. In 2017, we have similar number of cases in deaths. And the season is unfinished yet. There will be more cases and could also be more deaths still coming. According to global and region data, we are not really very much seeing yet and unusual pattern for Myanmar and it is not really out of the ordinary’.

Meanwhile on the social media, pubic are concerned on the sub-types of season influenza like H3N2 and H5N1. To address those public’s anxious, WHO country representative explained to MITV what it is the matter most.

Representative, WHO Myanmar, Dr. Stephan Paul Jost said “These are different things. The H1N1 and the H3N2 are circulating human flu viruses and they are also contained in the seasonal flu vaccine. H5N1 is actually not observed and has not been reported it yet in Myanmar in terms of human case let alone the death. If a case was to observe it is not actually easy to contract it is a different type of influenza. And It’s coming from actually animals but if you work to get to human case and of course will take different measures to contain that. But there is not the case in Myanmar at present”.

The symptoms of H1N1 include fever, coughing, sore throat, running nose, body aches, headaches, chills as well as vomiting and diarrhea. Prevention and control of H1N1 virus to reduce the risk of fatality from the virus is being carried out by the health authorities, urging people to follow recommended precautionary measure.