China/Myanmar: Cholera/Diarrhoea outbreaks in Kachin refugee camps

[Ronan Kelly]

Cholera outbreak in Kachin refugee camps
Thursday, 02 February 2012 15:23 Kyaw Kha

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) ? Children and elderly people in Kachin refugee camps along the Sino-Burmese border have contracted cholera because of unsafe drinking water, according to workers with the Relief Action Network for IDP and Refugees (Ranir).


More than 30 children have contracted cholera and one child has died of the disease at the Pajau Refugee Camp, Ranir said.

...

In China, the Ruili District adjacent to Kachin State has also experienced a cholera outbreak, according to the Wunpawng Ning Htoi group (People?s Light), which works to provide food and medicine to Kachin refugees. No estimates of how many cases have occurred were available.
...

http://www.mizzima.com/special/kach...cholera-outbreak-in-kachin-refugee-camps.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: China/Burma: Cholera outbreak in Kachin refugee camps

Re: China/Burma: Cholera outbreak in Kachin refugee camps

Published Date: 2012-05-15 01:06:50
Subject: PRO/MBDS> Diarrhea - Myanmar, China: border refugee camps, RFI
Archive Number: 20120515.1111
DIARRHEA - MYANMAR, CHINA: BORDER REFUGEE CAMPS, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
************************************************************************

A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org

[1]
Date: Wed 9 May 2012
Source: Eleven Media Group [in Myanmar, trans. Mod.YMA, edited]
http://www.news-eleven.com/index.ph...31-33&catid=45:2009-11-10-07-45-41&Itemid=113

According to the humanitarian workers in Kachin refugee camps, diarrhea outbreaks are occurring in some refugee camps.

There are also problems for getting clean drinking water in these refugee camps situated at Kachin State. In addition, there are many health problems such as diarrhea and malaria.

The war between the national military groups and Kachin Independence Army in Kachin State started in June 2011. Since then, villagers in the war areas have had to abandon their homes and stay in refugee camps situated at Myitkyina capital city, Waing Maw town, Ba Maw town and Moe Mauk town in Kachin State, northern Shan State and China.

"Recently, some people died due to diarrhea and diarrhea associated with vomiting. Some children also died due to malnutrition," says a humanitarian aid worker.

In some refugee camps situated in remote areas, there is lack of medical treatment, medicines, drinking water and toilets.

There are also diarrhea cases in refugee camps at Naung Taung town, China. Around 10 diarrhea patients come to the clinic at the camp every day. A child also died after drinking breast-milk from mother with diarrhea in Nga-naung-pa camps.

-- Communicated by: PRO/MBDS <promed-mbds@promedmail.org>


******
[2]
Date: Mon 7 May 2012 Source: Myanmar News Now [in Myanmar, trans. Mod.YMA, edited] http://www.thithtoolwin.com/2012/05/blog-post_2768.html

"There are diarrhea outbreaks in refugee camps at northern Shan State and many drugs are needed in these areas," says Chairman U Shain Win from Shwe Parami Health Foundation. "The outbreaks are happening in Jaw Kachin, Dakinayong-pa-laung, Man-wane-gyi, Nant-phat-kar and other small camps at Nam Kham, Muse, northern Shan State."

"Rice, insecticide treated bed-nets, and general medicines are needed at the Nant-phat-kar camp. There is not enough roof cover in camps, and flu and malaria infections might occur in early rainy season," says U Mg Aye who provided help in camps.

"They have to use contaminated water from streams and ponds. No assistance came from any place. Ma-naw-ma-hla team is the 1st one," says Ms. L Kwun Yee from Ma-naw-ma-hla team that provided help in Nant-phat-kar camp.

There are many Kachin, Shan and Pa-O ethnic groups affected by wars who need assistance in border areas between Kachin and Shan States, and areas along the Myanmar-China border. There are an estimated 60 000 refugees in Myanmar and 16 000 in 15 areas along Myanmar-China border.

-- Communicated by: PRO/MBDS <promed-mbds@promedmail.org>

[The article above reports diarrhea outbreaks in refugee camps in Shan and Kachin states of Myanmar and China. Contaminated drinking water is suspected as a source of infection. However, specific pathological agents have not been reported.

PRO/MBDS would appreciate any information from knowledgeable source on the causes of the diarrheal outbreaks in refugee camps from Myanmar and China.

For a map of Myanmar with administrative divisions, see http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/myanmar.pdf. For the interactive HealthMap/ProMED-mail map of Myanmar see http://healthmap.org/r/1Kxp. For a HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of China see http://healthmap.org/r/2mTS. - Mod.QCN]

See Also

Diarrhea - Myanmar (02): Yangon, RFI 20120502.0992
Diarrhea - Myanmar: Shan, RFI 20120222.0433
Cholera - Myanmar, China: border refugee camps, RFI 20120206.0295]
...................................yma/qcn/mj/yma