YANGON-Seasonal H1N1 flu killed three people in Yangon and the remaining flu suspected patients were already analyzed at Labs to confirm diagnosis, yesterday, said Deputy Director General Dr Tun Myint who is also head of Public Health Department in Yangon.

In Yangon Region, 20 H1N1 suspected patients were found until June 19th. Among them, seven had tested positive for H1N1 virus and three out of seven H1N1 positive patients died.

“According to the Seasonal Flu report, in Yangon, there were 12 H1N1 suspected patients from January to the end of May. Among 12 patients, one was confirmed as H1N1 positive patient. The Laboratory test said that the remaining 11 patients didn’t suffer from Seasonal Influenza. However, seven out of 20 suspected patients are infected with H1N1 virus in June. At present, five have been diagnosed with the disease and three already died. The first death was 29-aged woman from Kawthmu Township, Yangon Region. She died 17 days after giving birth. The second death was 75-year-old from Sanchaung Township. He received medical treatment at the Yangon General Hospital on June 16th but he died on June 17th. The third was 32-year-old man from Dagon Seikkan Township and he died on the same day. Two men were buried on June 19th,” said Dr Tun Myint.

Dr Nay Wun Thein from Yangon General Hospital said that the blood of victims who had died from suspected H1N1 virus had been diagnosed at the National Health Laboratory in Yangon General Hospital. If they will get blood test, they can approve that whether the virus would be H1N1 or not.

“The Yangon General Hospital requested us to bring a man dead body who died from Seasonal Flu H1N1. The dead body was about 60-old-year from Yangon. We buried him at the Yay Way Cemetery,” said an official from Information Department of the Free Funeral Service.

The Health and Sports Minister had directed the officials concerned to keep enough medicines at the public hospitals and start monitoring as Seasonal Influenza A (H1N1) may occur this season.

The World Health Organization sent recommendations over the control of seasonal influenza A (H1N1) pdm 2009 in 2017.

So, the Health Ministry is carrying out preventive measures against the Seasonal flu this rainy and winter. Myanmar found that there were 514 H1N1 suspected patients in 2017. 97 had tested positive for H1N1 virus and 12 patients had died. But, there was no outbreak of Seasonal Influenza last year, according to Dr Tun Myint.

H1N1 flu symptoms are the same as seasonal flu, including cough, fever, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue.