Six new cases of Filariasis have been discovered in the congested capital region of Maldives.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Sunday revealed that one case was discovered from Malé and five new cases were discovered in Hulhumalé.
HPA noted that the Filariasis outbreak was uncovered during a screening camp of expatriate workers in northern Kulhudhuffushi City.
In this regard, a number of positive cases have been detected during testing as part of special efforts being carried out with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The public health authority revealed that testing for filariasis; a disease which was initially eradicated in the Maldives back in 2016, was carried out in Hulhumalé, Villimalé, Gulhifalhu, Thilafushi and Malé area from December 22 – 23.
Testing was mainly conducted at work sites of migrant workers.
HPA revealed that five out of 29 migrants tested in Hulhumalé tested positive for the disease and one out of 20 tested from Gulhifalhu tested positive, with one out of 15 tested in Malé having tested positive as well.
Out of the 439 migrant workers tested for Filaria in Kulhudhuffushi City, 25 have tested positive so far.
According to the public health authority, 683 people have been tested so far, as efforts are being expanded due to the detection of Filaria cases. Out of these, 32 have tested positive.
Further, it has been revealed that no Maldivians have tested positive for the disease, yet.
Statistics reveal that 10 of them hail from India’s Uttar Pradesh, 18 from Bihar, India, one from Tamil Nadu, India, two from Bangladesh and one from Gopalganj, India
HPA highlighted that their treatment will be carried out under the authority’s supervision and that all of those who have tested positive so far, have been provided medication.
In addition to this, the public health authority has confirmed that testing process is being expanded, to include foreigners and Maldivians.
All citizens and relevant authorities have been urged to extend support and cooperation in these efforts.
