The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has revealed that they have identified 65 contacts of the measles patient that came into the spotlight last week.

Providing an update on the measles case discovered in southernmost Addu City last week, the public health authority noted that although 65 contacts have been identified, none of them exhibit symptoms.

A child from the southernmost city tested positive for measles on April 3.

After the case came into light, the Addu Equatorial Hospital (AEH) had immediately begun efforts to identify contacts in connection with the case.

As such, HPA revealed that a community survey was conducted in the area where the measles case was reported, as per the procedure set for it.

As part of the survey carried out, ring vaccination was carried out to immunize those who hadn’t already completed both doses of the measles vaccine, as well as those who did not have a record of receiving the vaccine.

The information of 41 individuals was collected through the community survey, conducted at 16 neighboring residences and a shop.

Shedding light on the 65 contacts traced, HPA said that they did not have symptoms and that they had already been vaccinated.

19 individuals were vaccinated after the survey.

As measles is deemed to be eradicated in the Maldives, the public health authority stated that collecting samples from individuals who consult with symptoms of the disease, is a procedure followed by all healthcare centers in accordance with the surveillance guidelines set by HPA.

With this, HPA has urged the public to seek medical assistance as soon as they’re able to, if they exhibit symptoms of the disease including fever, cough, mucus production, a rash all over the body and redness in eyes among others.

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) publicly declared the elimination of measles from Maldives during June 2017, the disease resurfaced in the Maldives in January 2020. The Ministry of Health made the reveal on 8 January 2020 after the first case emerged after the parents of the child who tested positive, had refused to vaccinate him.

This prompted authorities to launch a nationwide campaign for vaccination, during which both locals and foreigners were given vaccine doses. During the campaign, vaccination teams visited schools to administer vaccines to students and teachers as well.

As measles is considered a dangerous disease due to its wide-spreading nature, the public is urged to practice caution and take the responsibility of getting vaccinated.