Public Awareness: MMA Organized A Symposium On Influenza Update

In order to promote seasonal Influenza Awareness to the public and health care providers, Myanmar Medical Association (Central) organized “Symposium on Influenza Update” in Yangon on Tuesday.

Three topics “Update on Epidemiological Aspects of Influenza”, “Clinical Aspects of Influenza” and “Virolog and Laboratory Aspects of Influenza” were discussed at the symposium.

General Secretary, Myanmar Medical Association (Yangon), Dr. Win Zaw said “Today symposium mainly focused to share information about seasonal Influenza to the health care providers. So we invited 3 speakers including the officials from the Department of Public Health (MOHS), Yangon General Hospital and National Health Laboratory. According to the Ministry of Health and Sports, there were losses of lives occurred due to the outbreak of the Influenza A H1N1 pdm09 this year. So the invited speakers would share about do’s and don’ts of virus to the public and not to scare but to aware of the virus.”

The General Secretary of Myanmar Medical Association (Yangon) also adivsed to the public to have enough sleep, eat healthy foods, thoroughly wash their hands after sneezing, coughing, coming into physical contact with influenza patients and public items, cover their mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, and avoid going to crowded places unless necessary.

General Secretary, Myanmar Medical Association (Yangon), Dr. Win Zaw said “As our association, we will keep raising public awareness about seasonal influenza in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sports, Yangon Region Health Department and surveillance centers.  We also have monthly public health awareness program in Yangon Region. So we plan to add this seasonal influenza awareness program to monthly public health awareness program.”

Seasonal Influenza is an annual outbreak and epidemics. According to the Ministry of Health and Sports, a total of 8 people have died from the Influenza A H1N1 pdm09 virus in Yangon till June 24th in this year.

In 2017, a total of 92 people were confirmed to have Influenza A H1N1 pdm09 virus out of 514 suspected patients, and 12 deaths were occurred in Yangon Region. There was no case of Influenza A H1N1 in 2018 in Yangon Region.

The victims were reported to be the elderly and young children who already had chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, or respiratory disease as well as pregnant women.