Local health communities reported a rise in influenza cases and infections in several townships of Arakan (Rakhine) State during the current seasonal transition.
Since early September, a high number of flu cases among both children and adults have been reported in townships including Sittwe, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, and Ponnagyun.
In Ponnagyun Township, about three out of every five people have already been affected by seasonal flu, showing symptoms such as fever, runny nose, cough, body aches, and in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting.
“The day I started feeling sick, my temperature went up quickly. I felt cold and shivery all over, with a headache and a runny nose. Every time I coughed, it felt like my lungs were in pain,” said a young resident of Ponnagyun, a township under the control of the Arakan Army (AA).
Similarly, in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State under junta control, nearly every household has at least one flu patient. With medicine in short supply due to the junta’s blockades and restrictions, residents are increasingly turning to traditional remedies.
Seasonal flu is caused by a respiratory virus that spreads through droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable.
“These days, both kids and adults are coming down with the flu. A lot of people are buying flu medicine. We think the changing weather is making it more common. Since it’s contagious, people need to be extra careful,” said a pharmacy owner in Kyauktaw Township.
This type of flu usually spreads each year when the rainy season gives way to winter. Health experts warned that it can be more severe than the regular flu and potentially life-threatening if left untreated.
“Seasonal flu usually goes away on its own after a fever, but it’s not something to take lightly. People with weak immune systems can get seriously ill for days. So, preventing it is better than trying to treat it. Right now, we need to be extra careful about our health,” said a healthcare official from the United League of Arakan (ULA), who spoke on condition of anonymity. The ULA is the political wing of the AA.
Healthcare officials warned that factors like sleep deprivation, heavy drinking, exhaustion, and showering at night in cooler temperatures can all make people more susceptible to seasonal flu.
Healthcare communities have suggested preventive measures such as keeping a distance from people showing flu symptoms, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, washing hands thoroughly afterward, and ensuring adequate sleep and rest.
They cautioned that in Arakan State, where medicine shortages are already severe, the flu could be an even greater threat to life than usual. In internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, where hundreds or thousands of people live in close quarters, increased vigilance is essential to curb the spread of disease.