At least 500 people have been hospitalised with severe diarrhoea in Yangon since 9 August, with 149 testing positive for cholera in rapid tests, according to a regional official.
Yangon regional Social Affairs Minister Bo Htay told the regional parliament on Monday that nine cases had so far been confirmed as Vibrio cholerae infections by Myanmar’s National Health Laboratory.
The outbreak marks a growing public health concern in Myanmar’s largest city, where years of civil war have placed severe strain on the country’s healthcare system and other essential infrastructure.
More than 100 patients were admitted on a single day last Thursday, but the number of new hospital admissions has since declined, Bo Htay said.
Health authorities are conducting epidemiological surveillance and outbreak-control measures in affected areas, according to officials.
Cholera is a potentially deadly bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, usually after consuming contaminated food or water. Without prompt treatment and rehydration, severe cases can become fatal within hours.
The World Health Organization considers cholera a major global public health threat and has linked its spread to inadequate access to safe water, sanitation and healthcare.
Myanmar’s health system has faced mounting pressure since the military seized power in 2021, with the prolonged conflict further disrupting public services and access to medical care.
