RAKHINE (ARAKAN) STATE- It was reported that people fleeing the war in areas such as Brahmin Island, Minpyar City, Ngapali, Thandwe, Gwa, Yanbyel, and Kyauktaw town were suffering from skin diseases.
Since the rainy season, symptoms of skin diseases such as body itching, rashes, ringworm, scabies, and blister-like lesions have been reported and are still occurring.
Currently, skin disease cases are mostly occurring in the Ngapali, Gwa, Yanbyel, and Kyauktaw areas where most of the patients were war refugees.
A resident of Ngapali said that due to the impurity of the environment and water, itchiness is the initial symptom, and then the sores spread throughout the body through scratching.
“It is common in Ngapali, especially in the locals of Jittaw and Myapyin areas. No clean water to use and an unsanitary environment are the major factors. I think not getting enough initial medical treatment is the contributing factor for the skin infection outbreaks,” he said.
It has been reported that those suffering itchiness spread the infection through scratching and close contact.
In the Ngapali area, skin diseases mainly affect children under the age of 15, and residents also say that they urgently need to receive health care.
A person fleeing the war between Thandwe and Gwa said that if a disease breaks out, it spreads easily since the people fleeing the war are living together in compact space.
“The war refugees have not entered the city yet, so they are packed in the homes in villages. The infectious rate of skin infection is almost 100%. Scabies and ringworms easily spread through contact and scratches on the skin. Since there were not enough medicines (nor space) diseases have worsened,” said a resident.
Many people have recovered under the medical treatment provided by the AA health department in Minpya and Brahmin Island. Yet, many have not received any medical care.
In some ongoing cases in the Thandwe, Ngapali, Yanbyel, Taungoke, and Gwa areas, if timely medical treatment is not received, other bacteria may enter through the itchy sores and life-threatening conditions may exist.
