Over 100 flu patients in medical treatment at Myanmar border camps

MAE HONG SON, Oct 1 – Over 100 refugees with symptoms of common flu — influenza — are receiving inpatient medical treatment in the nursing sections of two refugee camps in the northern province of Mae Hong Son.

The camps comprise refugees who fled Myanmar when the Karen military headquarters at Manerplaw was overrun by the Burmese army in 1995, although the majority of camp residents are under age 15 and have never been outside Thailand.

Sop Moei acting district chief Maj Yutthana Chaodupree said the medical NGO Malteser International (MI) which gives medical and other services to Mae La Ma Luang and Mae La Oon camps reported that 1,103 patients at Mae La Oon temporary shelter sought medical treatment from September 19 to 25, and 74 stayed in the nursing quarters of the camp.

MCOT