By Kantarawaddy Times
A recent outbreak of skin irritation among adolescents in Tee Theh Kalo Village, located on the eastern side of Dee Maw Hso Township in Karenni State, has raised significant concerns. The skin condition, which has been ongoing for nearly a month, is predominantly affecting children around the age of 15, with up to 30 youths, including students, experiencing symptoms.
“Once one person contracts it, it quickly transmited to others, especially in settings where people are close together. If those affected take care of it properly, some recover relatively quickly, but it’s clear this is not related to water quality. It seems to have originated elsewhere and then spread here,” explained a local resident,” a local resident explained about the transmission of the condition.
Children under the age of 15 are also experiencing itching, and the condition has been ongoing for nearly a month. It’s reported that up to 30 children, including students, have been affected by the itching.
The outbreak is not limited to teenagers; children under 15 have also been affected. The condition has prompted some affected students to avoid certain foods, such as fish paste, hoping this will alleviate symptoms. “It’s been going on for a while now. I haven’t been affected myself, but many of my friends have. Some are even avoiding certain foods, thinking it might help them recover faster,” noted a 15-year-old student.
Those affected by the itching are often people with poor personal hygiene or those who are less attentive to treating the condition, and they tend to experience it for longer periods.
According to a local teacher, students’ habits of socializing closely and sharing meals may contribute to the spread. “The 14- and 15-year-olds are mostly students who spend a lot of time together, and the condition spreads easily in such environments. Naturally, their parents are very concerned,” she said.
Additionally, internally displaced people living near forests and mountains are also experiencing skin itching. Due to a lack of clean water, they struggle with personal hygiene, and they lack access to ointments and medications, resulting in frequent recurrences of the itching.
