Hundreds hospitalised in Yangon cholera outbreak: minister

At least 500 people have been hospitalized in Yangon due to severe diarrhea, with 149 testing positive for cholera, according to a Yangon official. This comes after more than five years of civil war, during which over 100,000 people are estimated to have lost their lives. The economy, too, is in a state of decline. The regional social affairs minister, Bo Htay, first confirmed that cholera was involved on August 17, nearly a week after the initial hospital admissions.

Rapid tests for cholera yielded 149 positive cases, with nine cases formally confirmed as vibrio cholerae by the National Health Laboratory. Cholera is a severe diarrheal infection that can be fatal within hours if left untreated, according to the World Health Organization, which also links it to inequity and a lack of social and economic development.

Over 100 new patients were admitted to the hospital on Thursday, but new cases have since decreased. One 92-year-old patient died after being admitted due to diarrhea, though officials cited underlying heart and lung conditions as the cause of death. Health personnel are currently conducting epidemiological surveillance and outbreak-control measures in the affected areas.