YANGON—Twenty-six people nationwide died after contracting the seasonal H1N1 influenza virus between the second week of June and July 3, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.
Yangon had the most fatalities, with 22. In the period, there were 385 suspected flu cases, of which 114 were diagnosed as H1N1, also known as “swine flu”.
Ministry Deputy Director Dr. Khin Khin Gyi pointed out that in most cases the flu was not the sole cause of death; rather it was a contributing factor along with other chronic health problems.
“More than two-thirds of the victims had chronic health problems. Their immune systems were weak, leaving them vulnerable to infection,” she said.
“People suffering from diabetes, hypertension and heart and respiratory problems have a higher risk of death [after contracting H1N1],” she added.
In 2017, 30 people died out of 406 diagnosed cases of H1N1, among 1,165 suspected cases. Last year, there were no fatalities and only 13 confirmed cases, according to the Public Health Department.
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