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No plague outbreak in Myanmar cyclone-hit areas

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-18 15:33

YANGON - There has been no outbreak of infectious diseases in Myanmar in the aftermath of the cyclone storm Nargis, said the state-run Radio Myanmar Sunday morning quoting an announcement of the National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee.

"Except usually occurring diseases, there is no presence of other infectious diseases," the announcement said.

The announcement said that a total of 122 domestic medical teams including that from the military and the civil with altogether over 2,000 members are serving in the disaster-stricken areas enthusiastically.

The announcement also said the government's Donation Accepting and Supervision Body will coordinate with international non- governmental organizations (INGO) for systematic acceptance of donations in cash or kind from the international community to enable the donation aids reach the hands of the victims, citing the fact that some INGOs received directly such donations but gave no further clarification.

The announcement went on to encourage people to continue their donations without worry as the Myanmar National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee, led by the Prime Minister, has warned against relief aid embezzlement, saying that people who trade, hoard or misuse the international aid for cyclone survivors will be taken legal action after rumors about diversions of such aid or open sale in markets circulated in the past few days.  

A deadly tropical cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states -- Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin on May 2 and 3, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon inflicted the heaviest casualties and infrastructural damage.

According to a latest official death toll released on Friday evening, as many as 77,738 people have been killed in the disaster with altogether 55,917 still missing and 19,359 injured.