Data regarding the effect of infl uenza in rural areas of the developing world are scarce, as are etiologic data from refugee populations (7) (8) (9) . A recent review of published reports from Southeast Asia concluded that infl uenza infection may be identifi ed in up to 26% of outpatients with febrile illness and in 14% of hospitalized patients with pneumonia (10) . In Thailand, seasonal infl uenza virus activity peaks during the rainy season (June-September), with smaller peaks occurring during the cold months (January and February) (11) . Incidence of infl uenza infections in Thailand was 64-91 cases/100,000 persons per year during 1999-2002; the infl uenza-related hospitalization rate was 21/100,000 persons during 1999 (11) . Infl uenza infections in Myanmar are also seasonal; cases are documented predominantly in the rainy season (May-October) (12) (13) (14) . Incidence data for infl uenza virus infections in Myanmar are not readily available.