Filariasis cases in Kulhudhuffushi rise to 25

Health Protection Agency (HPA) states the number of people who have tested positive for Filariasis from Kulhudhuffushi City has increased to 25.

The cases were identified during a health screening camp held for migrants by Kulhudhuffushi Hospital in collaboration with HPA and some other organizations.

16 cases were identified during the camp.

HPA, on Thursday, said 25 migrants out of the people screened for Filariasis between December 1^st and December 19^th, after possible cases of Filariasis were identified during a health screening camp held for expatriates living in Kulhudhuffushi City in conjunction with World Aids Day, had tested positive for the disease.

409 people out of the 434 people screened for the disease had tested negative.

HPA noted that the expatriates who tested positive were nationals who came to the Maldives from countries where Filariasis is still endemic.

The agency stressed that efforts were underway to control the disease from spreading.

Filariasis is a disease which was eradicated from Maldives in 2016.

Filariasis is an infectious disease transmitted through the Culex mosquito – a type of mosquito that breeds in dirty water. Therefore, a precaution against the disease will be to eliminate probable breeding grounds and to take preventive measures against mosquito bites.