Both Dengue fever and Chikungunya are highly contagious diseases contracted from Aedes mosquitos; and can spread from person to person rapidly.
On the other hand, Filariasis caused by Culex pipiens, another mosquito type, is not as contagious as Dengue or Chikungunya but can spread easily as well.
In 2019, the Maldives received an award from the World Health Organization (WHO) for completely eradicating Filariasis. While the Maldives was the first country in the South Asian region to achieve this, Sri Lanka became the second country in the region to accomplish the feat.
However, during a medical screening session at Kulhudhuffushi City to commemorate the World AIDS Day, a total of 25 expatriates with Filaria were discovered.
Another case was discovered from Hulhumalé from a separate medical screening held for the island's expatriate community.
The disease is caused by a chronic mosquito-borne parasitic infection. The mosquito type that carries this parasite is called Culex pipiens, which are usually found in congested or dirty water.
As the vector, when the mosquito carrying the parasite bites a person, the said parasite enters the host's body and begins to populate within the blood, leading to Filariasis.
The lymphatic system is particularly susceptible to the negative effects of the disease. The lymphatic system within the human body combats infections and diseases, maintaining bodily fluids at optimum levels. The body's natural defense system is thus a part of this lymphatic system.
The Director General of Health Services Dr. Ahmed Ashraf while speaking at the Raajje Miadhu program of Public Service Media (PSM) on Saturday evening, December 23, said that a research conducted in 1960 showed six percent of Maldivian population back then carried Filaria.
The government then began active efforts to counter and eradicate the disease completely from the Maldives.
Dr. Ashraf emphasized that Maldives is once again required to make efforts to eliminate the disease after the discovery of over two dozen positive cases in recent weeks. He added that the current priority is focused on screening expatriate communities in the Greater Malé region, industrial islands, and sites, as well as cleaning out construction sites to ensure mosquito habitats are controlled and taken care of.
Mohamed Hamzath, the Public Health Coordinator of Health Protection Agency (HPA), said contracting Filaria is not as easy as contracting Dengue fever of Chikungunya.
Hamzath said that since the spread of Filaria comes through the chronic infection, the Culex mosquitos would have to bite on an individual multiple times for the disease to be transmitted into the human body. He added that on average a Culex pipiens-type mosquito has to bite 15,500 times for a person to be contracted with the disease.
"A person has to be exposed to such mosquitos to that extent for the disease to be transmitted," he said.
- Caused by Culex pipiens mosquito, which are usually found in congested or dirty water
- Generally, the mosquito is active between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
- Despite contacting the disease, symptoms may remain dormant for an extended period. However, the parasite would continue to affect the lymphatic system of the body.
- Swelling of the extremities, hydroceles and testicular masses in some cases
- Fever and other associated symptoms due to infection
- Using mosquito-repellant creams and lotions
- Long dresses/outfits to cover skin
- Installation of mosquito-repellant nets in air or draft valves and inlets
- Generally mosquitos are populated during the morning and the late afternoon
- Ivamectin
- Diethylcarbamazine
- Albendazole
According to Dr. Ashraf, the medication should be used once, while the simultaneous usage of the medications would provide a faster relief.
As one of the medication is not readily available in the Maldives, the Health Ministry has sought the assistance of the Foreign Ministry and the WHO.
Dr. Ashraf further explained that the medication is used to exterminate the parasite inside the patient's body. Since the symptoms to the extremities become observable after an extended period, the medication prevents the spread of infection; however, the condition of the patient would not revert to normal despite the medicine.
"If treatment is initiated early, the disease can be controlled and can be prevented from becoming extensive. It is advisable to begin treatment if the disease is discovered at an early stage. The damage cannot be reversed, but the medicine stops the spread of the disease," Dr. Ashraf said.
One of the most notable symptoms of the disease is the enlargement or swelling of the extremities, especially the legs. If the disease is diagnosed at this stage, the patient's treatment and living conditions become challenging.
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