Arakan News Agency
Myanmar authorities have asked the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) to help fight the swine flu epidemic, which is spreading mainly in the economic capital of Yangon.
At least six people were killed and 30 others infected last week, most of them in Yangon, a ministry official said.
“We have asked for WHO assistance,” said Than Thun Aung, Assistant Director-General of the Public Health Department, to provide equipment for the diagnosis of infected and drugs.
“Thirty people have been found to be infected with the H5N1 virus so far and 50 others have been suspected since July 19,” he said.
WHO has yet to respond to the request.
There have been rumors across social networking sites since the first deaths. A large number of Yangon residents began to wear medical masks to avoid infection with the virus.
The swine flu virus, a respiratory disease, was first detected in 2009 after monitoring of infections in the United States and Mexico. Between 2009 and 2010, the virus caused 18,500 deaths in 214 countries.
