Spike in Dengue and Malaria Cases in Kachin State Following Disruption of Routine Vaccinations

Pajau Media

July 3, 2025

In Kachin State, the onset of the rainy season has made transportation difficult, hindering the delivery of vaccines and medicines. As a result, there has been a shortage of essential vaccines, leading to a rapid increase in the transmission rates of seasonal diseases such as dengue fever and malaria, with more patients falling ill each day.

A local from Myitkyina said, “During this season, travel is extremely difficult. The roads are rough, so it’s not easy for medical supplies to arrive. The medicines that do arrive are expensive due to high transport costs. Because of this, the rate of malaria cases is increasing day by day.”

Currently, those suffering from dengue and malaria, diseases common during the rainy season, are facing a shortage of medicines and are spreading the illnesses to others, according to local reports.

The main trade route, the Myitkyina–Mandalay highway, has also become difficult to traverse due to heavy rains, making the delivery of goods challenging and increasing transportation costs compared to before.

A healthcare professional explained that not only is it difficult to order and purchase medicines, but transportation delays are also causing more frequent shortages of medicines throughout Kachin State.

Especially in IDP camps, densely populated areas, villages, and neighborhoods, there has been a recent surge in dengue and malaria cases. Hospitals and clinics are seeing more patients with these illnesses, affecting people of all ages—from newborns to the elderly—according to healthcare workers.

News – Hpring