Fifty-three children contracted suspected measles in 4 out of 12 villages under Htee-tha-ba-lu-hta Village Group – Bway-htaw-yu, Ka-pi-khee, Wah-thaw-ka-lar, and Htee-law-thi-hta villages – since August 24 and the number of suspected measles patients has rose up to over 80 now, the BPHWT’s medic Saw Del Del told KIC News.

“All of them shows signs of measles. We can confirm it from the medical point of view,, but it’s difficult for us to do a diagnosis test. Fifty-three children contracted the disease first. Our local health workers give a daily report so over 80 cases have been reported now. Among them, some of them have already recovered,” he told KIC News.

The disease has spread to a village in Bu-tho Township besides Dwe-lo Township and 12 health workers from BPHWT are monitoring and treating the patients after receiving emergency medicine from the Mae Tao Clinic and HSS Program, Saw Del Del continued.

The 12 health workers have been assigned to different areas due to the rise in suspected measles patients and more emergency medicines are needed to treat them. According to latest list received on September 5, 90 people have contracted the disease and ten patients have already been treated, BPHWT said.

Besides the BPHWT, the SMRU health team will cooperate in confirming whether or not the suspected disease is measles. Only a few people from this area had contracted a similar disease in the past and this is the first time the area has been hit with the outbreak.