Second case of measles in the Maldives confirmed

The second case of measles in less than a week has been confirmed in the Maldives.

IGMH confirmed that a second case was reported and was now under treatment at the hospital. The infected is reportedly a 17-year old boy.

The boy is now beaing treated at IGMH under quarantine.

The first measles case reported in the Maldives was tested as positive on January 11, 2020, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

The first victim is a three-year-old child living in the Male’ city region, who was at first reported for suspected measles on January 8, 2020. HPA stated that the child had not been administered the required vaccine doses at nine months and 18 months.

The child was treated at IGMH and was later released in good health after ensuring that there was no risk of the disease spreading.

A highly contagious disease, measles can spread to others through coughing and sneezing and contact through bodily fluids. The disease can be spread from an infected person to another who has not administered both doses of the vaccines, according to HPA.

What are the symptoms of measles?

• Fever.
• Dry cough.
• Runny nose.
• Sore throat.
• Inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers

HPA also publicized the locations visited by the child in the timeframe for the disease to spread in the reported case.

The locations and timings are:

• Hulhumale’ Hospital (January 4, 2020, 20:00-23:00)
• Hulhumale’ Hospital (January 5, 2020, 17:00-21:00)
• Senahiya (January 6, 2020, 19:00-22:00)
• Hulhumale’ Hospital (January 7-8, 2020, 19:00-02:00)
• Treetop Hospital (January 8, 2020, 11:30-13:30)
• Hulhumale’ Central Park and the café’s in the surrounding vicinity (January 1-9, 2020)

HPA requested those who have not administered the vaccine shots and visited these areas on these dates and times to consult with a doctor if symptoms start appearing. HPA also requested for suspected cases to consult with IGMH’s triage, call 1417 for Hulhumale’ Hospital, or visit the nearest health center or hospital of an island for medical care.

The best way to deter the spread of the disease was to administer the required vaccine shots, which would drastically reduce the risk of being infected by the disease. HPA called on the community to pay caution on administering these vaccine shots.

The Maldives was designated by the World Health Organization as a measles free country in 2017 and along with Bhutan became one of the first two countries in the region to achieve this.

Vaccinations in the Maldives were commenced in 1976 to prevent infectious diseases from being spread to infants. Measles vaccination in the country was started in 1983.