A case of measles has been identified in Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), a first in ten years.
A statement by Health Protection Agency (HPA), the case was identified via a surveillance system established in the Maldives which requires any patient presenting with fever and rashes to be tested for measles and rubella. The statement from HPA and an official of IGMH have confirmed that the patient is a 3 year old child who had not completed the 9 month and 18 month doses of the required vaccine.
It has been confirmed that the child has now been discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment for the disease and upon confirmation of the doctors that the disease can no longer be spread from the child.
However, authorities have identified areas visited by the child during the time period in which the infection might have spread. The time periods and locations highlighted by HPA are:
- 4th January 2020 (20:00 to 23:00) Hulhumale’ Hospital
- 5th January 2020 (17:00 to 21:00) Hulhumale’ Hospital
- 6th January 2020 (19:00 to 22:00) Senehiya
- 7th January 2020 (19:00 to 02:00 8th January 2020) Hulhumale’ Hospital
- 8th January 2020 (11:30 to 01:30 9th January 2020) Tree Top
Any individual who was in Hulhumale’ Central Park and cafe’s nearby during the evening without getting all the doses of measles preventing vaccines.
Authorities have warned any individual who has not completed the two doses of the vaccines to get the shots as soon as possible.
