Suspected Measles Outbreak Reported in Northern Karen State – 105 People Contracted
Border-based Back Pack Health Worker Team (BPHWT) said suspected measles outbreak has been reported in Htee Thablu Hta Village Tract in Dweh lo Township of Mu Traw (Hpapun) District in northern Karen State.
More than 100 people contracted suspected measles in 8 out of 12 villages under Htee Thablu Hta Village Tract – Bway Htaw Ru, Ka Pi Khee, Wa Thoe Kla, Htee Law Thay Hta, Mae Ku Khee, Poh Baw Kho, Kwee Net, and Plaw Pha Leh villages – as of September 10, the BPHWT’s medic Saw Del Del told Karen News today.
Medic Saw Del Del told Karen News earlier on September 5 that all of the case shows signs of measles. Saw Del Del said that they can confirm it from the medical point of view, but it was difficult for them to do a diagnosis test. Fifty-three children contracted the disease first and now 105 in total contracted the disease.
The disease has spread to a village in Bu Tho Township besides Dweh Lo Township and 12 health workers from BPHWT are monitoring and treating the patients after receiving emergency medicine from the Mae Tao Clinic and HSS Program, Saw Del Del continued.
The 12 health workers have been assigned to different areas due to the rise in suspected measles patients and more emergency medicines are needed to treat them.
Besides the BPHWT, the SMRU health team will cooperate in confirming whether or not the suspected disease is measles. Only a few people from this area had contracted a similar disease in the past and this is the first time the area has been hit with the outbreak.
