Deadly fever hits high numbers of children in Bassein

[Snowy Owl]

Deadly fever hits high numbers of children in Bassein
http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=188​

June 21, 2007 (DVB)?There has been a sharp increase in the number of children dying from hemorrhagic dengue fever in Bassein, Irrawaddy division, according to sources close to the local hospital.


In the past five days more than 10 children have died from the disease in Bassein, with local residents complaining the government had failed to address the problem.


?Three children died on the 18th of this month and five more died in the afternoon on the next day. At least 10 have died in total. The local health authorities have done nothing to take precautions,? DVB?s source close to the hospital said.


Residents also said that while a number of people from the community had offered to donate blood to help save the children, the hospital had attempted to sell the freely donated blood to patients and make a profit.


?The hospital chief is charging 9500 kyat for what he calls donation money for a pack of blood. Some poor families haven?t been able to pay,? another source told DVB.


Reporting by Naw Say Phaw