Two more test positive for measles

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has revealed that two more people have tested positive for measles out of the nine tested on Thursday.

With this, the total of measles-stricken individuals has risen to six.

Earlier, relevant institutions revealed that two children and one adult tested positive to the infectious disease. Another adult turned positive for measles on Saturday, revealed HPA.

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) publicly declared the elimination of measles from Maldives during June 2017, the disease resurfaced in the Maldives in early January, with six having tested positive thus far. As such, the Ministry of Health made the reveal on 8 January after a three-year-old tested positive.

While the infectious virus is catching the air, the ministry soon began clinical services in facilities for those who have not gotten the required two doses to acquire vaccination and have been pushing the people who have not gotten their required two doses of MR and MMR vaccinations, to get them at the earliest.

Children under six months of age, pregnant women and those with impaired immune system have a high risk of catching the infection, which can cause complications especially in children under five years of age. Some of the complications include pneumonia, croup, acute brain inflammation, inflammation of the middle ear as well as eye ulcers.

While measles is one of the most communicable diseases in the world owing to the fact that it can spread via air, symptoms include fever over 40 degrees Celcius, small white bumps inside the mouth, runny nose, sore throat, inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis), dry coughs and flat, red-colored bumps.

Maldives began vaccination services in 1976, having introduced vaccines for measles during 1983.