We summarize current news on global health and health security from the media.
The powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake in near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, 28 March 2025, caused at least 3,000 deaths and thousands of injuries. The earthquake occurred during a violent conflict between the military and pro-democracy combatants, making evacuation and emergency responses difficult in the affected areas. Fundamental infrastructures, including main road, bridges, transportation networks, and internet connections, was severely damaged.
The leader of the military junta has called for international assistance in emergency responses effort. This call is rare, as the military junta has generally limited its engagement with the international community since forcibly seizing power from the democratic government in 2021.
Currently, around 173,000 pregnant women are at risk following Myanmar earthquake. The country urgently needs more international assistance to support survivors during the emergency phase and later in the reconstruction process. Thousands of houses, schools, sanitation facilities, and healthcare centers have been destroyed.
In addition, even before the earthquake, malaria and tuberculosis had been increasing significantly in Myanmar. The ongoing internal war has further heightened health risks for population, including the spread of communicable disease. Myanmar's health system has collapsed since the civil war and the earthquake.