HPA urges caution over alarming increase in common cold cases

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has warned caution in the midst of an alarming increase in wide-spreading common cold infections.

In an appearance on RaajjeTV’s “Fala Surukhee” programme, member of HPA’s Technical Advisory Group Dr. Nazla Mustafa revealed that although authorities have been successful in controlling the spread of Covid-19 nationwide, there have been an alarming surge in infections of the wide-spreading common cold.

With this being said, she urged caution, especially from students and their parents. As such, parents and guardians have been urged to refrain from sending children to school should they come down with the flu, as some cases are observed to be severe.

Authorities were successful in their efforts to battle a fourth and more infectious wave of the pandemic in early May this year.

With a majority of the population across Maldives having completed both doses of vaccination against Covid-19, Dr. Nazla revealed that daily infections of coronavirus are observed to be declining as the people are adhering to the safety precautions in place.

HPA revealed that a total of 3,720 common cold cases have been reported so far this ongoing month, which is a 60 percent increase from the figures recorded during August. Further, the case of influenza reported over the past few months have also been increasing. In September, 68 out of 209 samples tested for influenza returned positive to Influenza A.

HPA has urged caution as influenza and the common cold are also respiratory diseases that can quickly catch the air.

With an increase in common cold cases, a Flu Clinic has been established by the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) for those who have symptoms to easily consult. The clinic is located in the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) building and will be open to the public from 8:30am to 10pm every day.