Kantarawaddy Times
In two internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the eastern part of Demoso Township, Karenni State, children under the age of 15 are suffering from seasonal flu and widespread skin irritations, and medicines are urgently needed, according to healthcare workers providing treatment there.
There are approximately 200 children under 15 across the two camps, and up to 40% of them have been affected.
“What’s quite common now are symptoms like chills and body aches. You could say it’s seasonal flu. Quite a lot have it. When we test the blood, it is not malaria either. About 80 children are affected, which is around 40%,” the healthcare worker said.
These illnesses began appearing earlier this month, and in some displaced families, all members are sick. The two IDP camps lack proper clinic facilities, and obtaining necessary medicines has become difficult, according to healthcare workers.
In addition to seasonal flu, many children are also suffering from full-body skin itching and infections, another healthcare worker added.
“They are children, most are adolescents. Skin problems are very common. I can’t even say how many there are. It’s quite a lot. And the itching affects their whole body,” the worker said.
Mobile health teams from the Karenni Mobile Team and local development health groups have been providing as much medical care and health education as they can, but more medicine and assistance are still needed.
