Health authorities have confirmed a case of invasive meningococcal disease in the Maldives, a serious bacterial infection that spreads through respiratory droplets.

In a message sent to the media on Saturday, the Ministry of Health stated that following the detection of a case of Invasive Meningococcal disease, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is working on gathering relevant information, conducting contact tracing, providing prophylactic medication to high-risk contacts for protection against the disease, and implementing additional precautionary measures.

Invasive Meningococcal Disease is a serious illness caused by bacteria. The few cases of the disease found in the Maldives are usually individuals who have been infected from abroad. Symptoms include fever, development of red spots on the skin, and headache. In severe cases, it can affect the brain (meningitis) and potentially lead to the spread of infection throughout the body (sepsis).

Meningococcal disease spreads through the respiratory system. People who spend a lot of time in close proximity to an infected person are at higher risk of contracting the disease. Symptoms of this disease typically appear between 1 to 10 days after infection.

The public health authority stated that those at highest risk of contracting the disease are individuals who spend extended periods in very close contact with the infected person.