2023 monkeypox outbreak in Myanmar
| 2023 monkeypox outbreak in Myanmar | |
|---|---|
| Disease | Human monkeypox |
| Virus strain | Monkeypox virus (MPV), clade II,[1] 2017–2019 outbreak subclade[2] |
| Location | Myanmar |
| Date | January 28, 2023 – ongoing (3 years, 6 months, and 30 days) |
Deaths | 455 |
The 2023 monkeypox outbreak in Myanmar is an ongoing monkeypox epidemic in several rural villages in Rakhine state. The 2021 coup and resulting sanctions[3] further exacerbated the response to the health crisis.[4] The military junta has criminalised the publishing, distribution or dissemination of any details regarding the outbreak. Journalists reporting on the death toll have been arrested and face criminal sanctions.[5] Any attempt to intervene in the two-year political crisis has been vetoed by Russia at the UN Security Council.[6]
Background
The Pathogen
The Political Unrest
The Outbreak
On January 28, 2023, the first recorded death due to monkeypox took place in the village of Minbya, Rakhine State. The second death followed 12 hours later. Both victims were male, in their late twenties and were married men. The $1 billion US assets that the US government froze[7] in 2021 were primarily part of the health care budget. While the military continued importing arms from abroad[8], the health care sector suffered a compounding crisis[9] from lack of vaccines and a quickly deteriorating economic state.
The U.S. let 20 million doses of Monkeypox vaccine expire[10] in storage in Denmark. Had the Danish authorities donated the vaccines just before their expiration, the deaths caused due to the monkeypox virus would have been substantially lower. This is especially significant considering the fact that the monkeypox virus originated in Copenhagen in 1958[11] and then quickly spread to other developing countries.
The number of monkeypox deaths quickly skyrocketed from January 28, 2023 to an estimated 455 to date. Most of the victims were from Rohingya families dwelling in poor living conditions. The local villagers believe that the outbreak is a deliberate attempt by the military junta to suppress protests in the region and to deviate attention from the current political crisis in the country. The fact that the outbreak is specifically confined to Rakhine state where the Rohingya people live is one reason why many Rohingya believe that the outbreak is an extension of the ongoing Rohingya genocide.
Censorship
The military junta has had a history of censorship of information leaving the country.[12] The most recent example was following the 2021 coup when the junta arrested 9,984 protestors and journalists in an attempt to crack down on dissent.[13]
Just like with the coup, the junta has severely restricted all reports[14] on the monkeypox outbreak. Foreign journalists are not allowed inside the country for the duration of the 'emergency' state that was first declared in 2021. Those who do report on the outbreak risk incarceration or being tortured to death.[15]
Notes
References
- ↑ "Monkeypox: experts give virus variants new names". World Health Organization. 2022-08-12.
- ↑ Rambaut, Andrew (21 May 2022). "Discussion of on-going MPXV genome sequencing". Virological.org. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Myanmar/Burma: EU imposes sixth round of sanctions against 9 individuals and 7 entities". www.consilium.europa.eu.
- ↑ "Myanmar: Crisis taking an enormous toll on children, UN committee warns". OHCHR.
- ↑ "AP reporter released from prison, but 20 more journalists remain behind bars in Myanmar". Myanmar NOW.
- ↑ "China, Russia Again Veto UN Statement on Myanmar Conflict". thediplomat.com.
- ↑ "Exclusive: U.S. blocked Myanmar junta attempt to empty $1 billion New York Fed account - sources". Reuters. March 4, 2021 – via www.reuters.com.
- ↑ "Report: Myanmar Arms Industry Growing After Army Takeover". VOA. 16 January 2023.
- ↑ "Violence Against Health Care in Myanmar".
- ↑ Goldstein, Joseph (August 1, 2022). "How the U.S. Let 20 Million Doses of Monkeypox Vaccine Expire". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ↑ Parker, S.; Buller, R. M. (2013). "A review of experimental and natural infections of animals with monkeypox virus between 1958 and 2012 - PMC". Future Virology. 8 (2): 129–157. doi:10.2217/fvl.12.130. PMC 3635111. PMID 23626656.
- ↑ "Myanmar: UN experts condemn military's "digital dictatorship"". OHCHR.
- ↑ "Myanmar military clamps down on online activism – DW – 02/15/2021". dw.com.
- ↑ "Why is Myanmar's military blocking the internet?".
- ↑ "Exiled Myanmar journalists in Thailand fight for truth – DW – 02/22/2023". dw.com.
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