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Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar's unchecked epidemic threatens COVID-19 'tsunami'

Virulent strain could kill 80,000 Burmese in weeks and spread regionally

The biggest crisis facing Myanmar after Senior Gen. Ming Aung Hlaing's Feb. 1 coup may not be his demolition of democracy and the economy. An unchecked third wave of COVID-19 threatens tens of thousands of Burmese -- and possibly others in neighboring countries. (Source photos by Reuters) 

BANGKOK -- When Cyclone Nargis slammed into Myanmar's heavily populated Irrawaddy Delta in May 2008, it killed almost 140,000 people. It was the worst natural disaster in Myanmar's recorded history.

Worse may now be in store for Myanmar and the region as an uncontrolled third wave of COVID-19 sweeps across a country where state hospitals have been shut for six months.

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