Amid earthquake recovery, WHO steps in to prevent dengue outbreaks in Myanmar

“We lost everything in the earthquake—then my daughter got sick with high fever,” Daw Nandar recalled, cradling her 8-year-old daughter under the plastic sheet they now call home. 

This is the voice of a distressed mother in the aftermath of Myanmar’s devastating earthquake—one among thousands of families now facing multiple layers of crisis. As displaced families across earthquake-hit regions sleep out in the open, exposed to mosquitoes and stagnant water, the threat of dengue outbreaks is rising rapidly. Children and pregnant women—already among the most vulnerable—now face yet another danger in the wake of a devastating disaster.

“At first, we thought her fever was just from the stress and heat—after all we’d been through. But days passed, and it only got worse. We had no money for treatment, no clinic nearby, nowhere to turn. Luckily, the health workers arrived and tested her right away. Because of them, my daughter received all the care she needed. She is recovering faster now.”

To prevent a second public health crisis, the World Health Organization's (WHO) launched targeted dengue prevention and control effort in coordination with local health partners, focused on underserved and high-risk communities affected by the earthquake in Sagaing, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw, where earthquake damage is severe, and shelter conditions are fragile. 

WHO is distributing 4,500 rapid diagnostic test kits to frontline responders and health workers operating in displacement sites and remote villages—ensuring cases are detected and treated early. Additional 500 tent nets will be provided as a measure to prevent mosquito bites particularly among infants and children including 6.2 tons of Temephos for targeted larviciding in risk sites for mosquito breeding.

“We cannot wait for dengue to become the next disaster,” said Elena Vuolo, Deputy Head of WHO Country Office Myanmar. “This intervention is not just about vector control. It’s about protecting lives, preventing further suffering, and making sure recovery is built on resilience. If we don’t act now, the dengue outbreak will follow soon in these open-air living conditions. The most important part of this initiative is that we are targeting our support to those who would otherwise be left behind.”

This dengue prevention initiative is part of WHO’s wider public health response—not only to treat injuries from the earthquake, but also to prevent secondary outbreaks like dengue, which can spread quickly in crowded, unsanitary conditions.

“This is what building resilience means,” said Elena Vuolo, Deputy Head of WHO Country Office Myanmar. “We cannot wait for the next outbreak. We need to prevent it now and protect those most at risk—that’s how we lay the foundation for stronger, healthier communities after everything else has been lost.” 

As Myanmar enters the monsoon season, overcrowded shelters together with the open-air living conditions, poor waste management, and stagnant water in damaged areas are creating ideal conditions for mosquito breeding. The lack of proper housing limits bed net use, while disrupted water supply is forcing families to store water in containers—further increasing the risk. Limited access to healthcare also hinders early diagnosis and treatment of dengue, raising the likelihood of severe cases and outbreaks among displaced and vulnerable populations.

WHO remains committed to supporting Myanmar’s people through both response and recovery, ensuring public health is upheld as a right, not a privilege—even in times of crisis.

Note to the story: in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the World Health Organization has launched a Flash Appeal for USD 8 Million to deliver life-saving trauma care, prevent disease outbreaks, and restore essential health services over the next 30 days.  WHO continues advocating for all its partners’ support to the Appeal- each contribution enables WHO to continue relief operations where most needed. The Appeal is available at: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/who-flash-appeal--earthquake-response-in-myanmar 

To read more about WHO’s response on earthquake please click here.

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