One of the most rapidly communicable diseases known, measles has resurfaced in the Maldives.

Children’s specialist at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), Dr. Ahmed Faisal revealed that the infectious disease re-emerged after one and a half years and so, urged the public to be cautious.

Urging the people to get any vaccinations they may have missed, Dr. Faisal stressed on the importance of checking children’s vaccination cards, for anything that may have been overlooked.

Highlighting that there are fewer means to control such diseases in the country, the doctor stated that the disease, being a virus that easily spreads from surface to surface, may catch on very quickly.

With the Tweet by Dr. Faisal, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has also urged the public to take precautionary measures and get vaccinated in order to prevent the spread of measles.

The World Health Organization (WHO) publicly declared the elimination of measles from Maldives during June 2017.

Maldives began vaccination services during 1976, having introduced vaccine for measles during 1983. The last patient to have tested positive to measles was treated during 2009.

Measles is transmitted by the respiratory route and manifests as coryza followed by a maculopapular rash after a cultivation period lasting up to seven or 21 days.