A total of 76 people in Ahlatan and Weipadan villages in Paung Township have been hospitalized due to a diarrhoea outbreak, with 27 patients still under treatment, according to the Township Health Department.

The outbreak began on October 27, affecting 42 people over two days. Daily cases continued, with nine patients admitted on October 29 and 30, 12 on October 31, and four more on the morning of November 1. Patients received care at Ahlat District Hospital and Paung Township General Hospital.

A source close to the township health department reported that 49 patients have since been discharged, while the remaining 27 continue to receive medical treatment. Additional cases of diarrhea have also been reported in nearby areas.

Laboratory tests by the National Laboratory in Yangon identified the cause as consumption of contaminated water and unclean food. According to residents, many fisher families in these coastal villages lack access to latrines, relying on untreated rainwater and lake water, which may have contributed to the outbreak. Flies on the beach, where fish are dried, were noted as another potential factor.

The Health Department, in collaboration with the Red Cross and social organizations, is conducting daily chlorination of wells and ponds, as well as spraying and sanitation awareness campaigns to curb the spread.

This recent outbreak follows similar cases in September, when dysentery among fishermen in the sea near Kyak Khami, Mon State, led to six deaths, with additional fatalities and hospitalizations in nearby Ye Township.