Myanmar (Burma): Meningococcal outbreak claims eight lives in the Mandalay; case in Yangon Region

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/na...meningococcal-outbreak-claims-four-lives.html

Meningococcal outbreak claims four lives
By Myint Kay Thi and Kyaw Ko Ko | Tuesday, 15 March 2016

Health authorities are on high alert following a recent meningococcal meningitis outbreak that has claimed the lives of four children in Mandalay Region.

Two children in a serious condition are being treated for the bacterial infection at Mandalay General Hospital, while five more children are receiving treatment at Meiktila General Hospital. All are from villages in Tharsi township.

Dr Win Naing, head of the Department of Public Health in Mandalay Region, said health officials were taking preventative measures to control the outbreak. They have started a vaccination campaign and advised people in the affected area to avoid large crowds...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/local/almost-all-children-hospitalised-meningitis-discharged

Almost all children hospitalised for meningitis discharged

Nineteen children of a total of 20 children admitted to hospitals for meningitis treatment are allowed to leave the hospital on March 21. Only one child is being still being treated because lab research showed the child is suffering from symptoms of pneumonia and dengue fever, according to Dr Thar Tun Kyaw, the head of the Department of Medical Services for Yangon Region.

Two children?a three-year-old and an eight-year-old, died on March 14 and 18, respectively. Meningitis was verified as the cause of death for at least one of the children...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/na...ngitis-outbreak-after-8-year-old-s-death.html

Yangon monitoring meningitis outbreak after 8-year-old?s death
By Myint Kay Thi | Monday, 28 March 2016

Health officials have placed Yangon Region on high alert as a deadly meningitis outbreak appears to have spread from Mandalay.

The Department of Public Health is monitoring all 44 townships following the death on March 18 of an 8-year-old girl in South Dagon township. Another child, reportedly her brother, died on March 14, according to Yankin Hospital...

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Death toll rises from meningitis outbreak

By Kyaw Ko Ko | Tuesday, 29 March 2016

Eight young children have died in Mandalay following an outbreak of a severe meningitis infection that has also spread to Yangon.

Four of the Mandalay cases were confirmed to have been caused by the bacterial meningococcal meningitis infection, with four other deaths suspected to have been linked.

Tharsi township has been suffering from a seasonal outbreak of the bacterial disease since the beginning of the month. Seven children under 10 years of age are still being treated in isolation for the vaccine-preventable infection, according to the region?s health department.
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http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/na...eath-toll-rises-from-meningitis-outbreak.html

 

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/na...eath-toll-rises-from-meningitis-outbreak.html

Death toll rises from meningitis outbreak
By Kyaw Ko Ko | Tuesday, 29 March 2016

Eight young children have died in Mandalay following an outbreak of a severe meningitis infection that has also spread to Yangon.

Four of the Mandalay cases were confirmed to have been caused by the bacterial meningococcal meningitis infection, with four other deaths suspected to have been linked.

Tharsi township has been suffering from a seasonal outbreak of the bacterial disease since the beginning of the month. Seven children under 10 years of age are still being treated in isolation for the vaccine-preventable infection, according to the region?s health department.

?We have sent a blood sample to a Yangon laboratory to examine the reason for a child?s death on March 26,? said Dr Win Naing, head of the Department of Public Health...

...From March 5 to 9, nine children under 10 from villages in Tharsi township arrived at Meiktila General Hospital with symptoms of meningitis. Four children died within days of the outbreak?s detection. Tests showed all four to have the Neisseria meningitidis group B bacteria in their blood. The serotype is one of six that can cause meningitis outbreaks.

On March 18, an eight-year-old from South Dagon township in Yangon died from the same type of meningitis. Her brother, who died days earlier, was suspected to have also had the bacterial infection.

Twenty children from the same ward were admitted to Yankin Hospital on March 19 with similar symptoms. They were later released as their blood tests were negative for meningitis.

?Now the children are fine,? said U Bo Gyi, ward director...