Dr Aung Lin Aye, Deputy Medical Superintendent of Yangon General Hospital, said diarrheal diseases are more likely to occur among people with weakened immunity, the elderly and those with poor personal hygiene, depending on environmental sanitation, food hygiene and drinking water sanitation.
“The patients’ health conditions are good. Some patients are scheduled to be discharged today, and some were discharged yesterday. In public health, there is what we call a three-way interaction in preventing disease: the disease-causing pathogen, environmental sanitation, and food and drinking water hygiene. People with weakened immunity, the elderly and those with poor personal hygiene are more susceptible,” Dr Aung Lin Aye said.
It is reported that, due to an increase in the number of patients with severe diarrheal disease over the past two to three days, treatment is being provided under the guidance of the hospital’s emergency department, hospital management team, senior physicians, the Ministry of Health and the Yangon Region Government.
“As the General Hospital operates under the medical care sector, our primary responsibility is to treat patients. We are paying particular attention to preventing deaths from severe diarrheal disease and providing appropriate treatment. Since diarrheal disease is infectious, we are taking special preventive and control measures to prevent transmission among patients, their accompanying caregivers and healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses and support staff. Such measures are also carried out routinely,” Dr Aung Lin Aye said.
As diarrheal disease is a public health concern, the hospital is working closely with the Yangon Region Public Health Department and giving the issue special attention. Although cases occur regularly, the number has increased significantly over the past two to three days, prompting intensified measures, he said.
Dr Aung Lin Aye reiterated that the patients’ health conditions remain good, with some patients being discharged.
He advised the public to pay close attention to personal hygiene, boil drinking water before consumption for the time being, avoid eating food exposed to flies and maintain a healthy lifestyle to strengthen immunity.
He also said that Doxycycline 100 mg is being administered as a preventive measure to caregivers and healthcare workers, with almost all healthcare workers having already taken it. Outpatients, inpatients and caregivers visiting Yangon General Hospital are also being given Doxycycline 100 mg. The hospital is accepting and treating all patients and has made arrangements to ensure sufficient beds are available. Patients are also being treated in separate wards, with three or four wards arranged in accordance with the relevant guidelines, Dr Aung Lin Aye said.
Apart from diarrheal disease, Yangon General Hospital treats around 1,300 to 1,500 inpatients and approximately 2,500 outpatients each day for other illnesses.
