More than one hundred people have died of H1N1 “swine flu” since the monsoon outbreak began, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. Almost 600 people are currently being treated for the disease in government hospitals. Yangon seems to be the epicenter of the outbreak. The two factory zones, South Dagon township and Hlaingtharyar township, took the hardest hit with a combined 44 cases and 11 deaths.

Dr Ye Linn Naing, assistant director of the Yangon Region Health Department, told The Myanmar Times that despite the high death toll, the number of cases is declining. Nevertheless, this outbreak seems to be much worse than the previous swine flu outbreak in 2017. In that year, only 38 people died of the illness.

Myanmar’s summer monsoon season is also its flu season, according to the WHO. The virus spreads via small, airborne water droplets and person to person contact, as people spend less time outdoors. Therefore, in closer proximity to one another and the very young and elderly are most at risk. The Ministry of Health and Sports has been ramping up efforts to contain the virus and administer vaccinations. The effort will target the pregnant and nursing women, who may be more susceptible to diseases.