Children in Arakan State face rising cases of pneumonia and flu

By Admin 22 Jan 2026

DMG Newsroom

22 January 2026, Pauktaw

Health professionals and parents say children in Arakan State, controlled by the Arakan Army, are increasingly suffering from pneumonia, phlegm, and seasonal flu this winter, a trend they attribute to climate change.

Parents have reported a rise in pediatric patients at township hospitals across the state this month.

A father from Pauktaw Township said, “My daughter is only four months old. When the weather gets colder, her cough worsens. The doctor said she had pneumonia and recommended hospital treatment. She stayed for five days. Many children as young as one month were hospitalized with pneumonia at the same time.”

Health experts note that during winter, respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, asthma, and colds are common among children, especially those under two years old.

To prevent these illnesses, they recommend that children receive nutritious foods in addition to breast milk and complementary foods after six months of age.

A nurse at the Department of Public Health under the United League of Arakan said, “During winter, children are more prone to illness. Infants under one year should be fed frequently to strengthen their immune system. Children with asthma should also have their daily surroundings kept clean.”

The health community stresses that children should receive routine influenza vaccinations during the winter season.

Since the start of fighting over control of Arakan State, Myanmar’s military regime has imposed road blockades, causing shortages of medicines, skyrocketing prices, and restricted access to healthcare.

Locals face crises including a lack of hospitals and clinics, insufficient health workers, and preventable deaths due to medicine shortages, high costs, and transportation difficulties.

A mother from Ramree Township said, “My baby was born prematurely and has been weak since birth. This winter, he frequently falls sick. Initially, I thought it was a common cold, but the clinic diagnosed him with the flu.”

The military regime has restricted land and sea movement of goods into Arakan State since November 2023, resulting in medicine shortages and limited access to vaccinations.

The Department of Public Health has begun vaccinating children under the age of two, but health professionals say the need for healthcare remains urgent, as hospitals and clinics have been displaced by military airstrikes.