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Three Pagodas Pass students face outbreaks of food poisoning and dengue fever

WCRP: High School students in the Thai-Burma border town of Three Pagodas Pass are reportedly experiencing simultaneous outbreaks of suspected food poisoning and dengue fever.

Many students have been hospitalized after experiencing dizziness, vomiting and diarrhea, which students and parents suggest may be the result of eating unclean food at the school market. Daw Nan Hla Oo, mother of a student at Three Pagodas Pass High School, explained, “My son ate salad from the school market, then when he arrived home he vomited and got sick. I didn’t know he was so sick until he came home from school the next day. Then I had a fever too and we went to hospital”.

Meanwhile, many Three Pagodas students have also begun showing symptoms of mosquito-borne dengue fever: a high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, severe joint and muscle pain, and vomiting.  New cases of dengue fever recall severe outbreaks last June and July, which affected large numbers of children in Mon State and Tenasserim Division.

With two simultaneous outbreaks of chronic diseases, insufficient health education at Three Pagodas Pass High School has come into focus. According to a former Mon medic, there have been no health education talks at Three Pagodas Pass’ government Basic Education school this year. A Standard 5 student confirmed, “In our school we never see anyone come to check health or give talks to educate about health issues”. While a Burmese government health group has reportedly given talks about health issues in other locations in the town, they were unable to distribute any medicine.

To prevent future cases of dengue fever, reports suggest plans to spray the town of Three Pagodas Pass for mosquitos, using spray donated by a health clinic located across the border in Thailand. In the meantime, medics advise residents of Three Pagodas Pass showing symptoms of either condition to visit a hospital immediately.

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