An expatriate worker in Hulhumalé has tested positive for Filariasis. This marks the first case reported outside the initial cluster of infections detected in Kulhudhuffushi City. Hulhumalé, being a frequent stopover point for expatriate workers en route to the outer atolls, has raised concerns about the potential spread of the disease.
HPA has confirmed that the newly identified patient is currently undergoing treatment. With this new case, the total number of Filariasis cases across the country has risen to 26. These individuals hail from regions where Filariasis remains endemic, including expatriate workers from India’s Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gopalganj, Tamil Nadu, and Bangladesh’s Cumilla region.
The resurgence of Filariasis has prompted intensified screening efforts. These screenings not only target expatriate workers arriving from endemic areas but also extend to the local population in areas frequented by the infected patients. The ongoing efforts are aimed at swiftly identifying and addressing potential sources of transmission, according to HPA.
Filariasis, a disease eliminated in the Maldives in 2016, is transmitted through Culex mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant water. To counter the disease’s resurgence, authorities are working to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds and implementing measures to safeguard against mosquito bites. The HPA is urging the public to take preventive measures to curtail the further spread of Filariasis in the country.