Arakan News Agency
Arakan state in western Myanmar has recorded more than 1,000 cases of malaria since the beginning of this year, surpassing the total number of cases recorded throughout last year.
The Myanmar newspaper “The Irrawaddy” reported on Wednesday that this year has also seen a significant increase in the number of deaths due to malaria compared to last year, with the state recording 30 deaths since the beginning of 2025, while last year saw only 20 deaths in total.
The newspaper, citing healthcare workers, stated that most cases are concentrated in the towns of An, Minbya, Mrauk U, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Maungdaw, and Rathedaung, where a lack of medical supplies and difficulty accessing treatment have led to an increase in the number of infections and deaths.
Healthcare workers also confirmed that the shortage of mosquito nets and lack of malaria treatment tablets, in addition to residents being forced to venture into the forests to search for food, have all contributed to the rise in the disease’s spread. A resident of the town of “Ann” mentioned that many people are bitten by mosquitoes while sleeping and during their travels into the forests for food, amidst a severe shortage of medical treatments. The town is experiencing the largest outbreak, with 21 deaths recorded.
The newspaper noted that most of those infected are children and that the disease has reached both villages and internally displaced persons’ camps. It also quoted a healthcare worker saying that the main problem is the lack of medicines and testing equipment, adding that previously, non-governmental organizations provided these services for free, but their operations have been seriously disrupted due to instability and budget constraints.
Furthermore, the conflict in the state has disrupted vaccination programs for children and pregnant women, leading to an increase in infection and mortality rates among children under five, according to health sources in the state.
The disease is considered extremely dangerous, as one doctor explained that malaria affects vital organs such as the liver and kidneys and can become fatal if patients do not receive timely treatment. Spraying insect repellent and treating water sources with larvicides can slow the spread of the disease, but the state lacks the necessary resources.
The military regime in Myanmar has imposed a land and sea blockade since fighting erupted with the Arakan Army (separatist) in November 2023, causing shortages in food, fuel, and medicine, leading to rising prices. The Arakan Army currently controls 14 out of 17 towns in the state, and the conflict has caused significant hardships for the Rohingya population, who have faced violence, forced displacement, and persecution from both sides. They were also subjected to a “genocide” campaign by the Myanmar Army in 2017, which drove nearly one million to flee to Bangladesh.
