Health Protection Agency (HPA) has warned of outbreaks of dengue, flu, viral fever and influenza across the Maldives, urging the public to take caution.
In a statement released Sunday, HPA stated that the changes in lifestyle during the ongoing month of Ramadan might increase the spread of disease, and advised to take precautionary steps.
The agency noted that reported cases of influenza were higher compared to other months.
In cases of flu, HPA advised people to use handkerchiefs or tissues to cover the nose and mouth while sneezing, dispose of used tissues safely, and to practise hygiene. The agency also urged patients to refrain from mingling with crowds, to avoid children, pregnant women and the elderly, and to protect children from cigarette smoke.
The agency further urged to take precautions against mosquitoes, such as abolishing or emptying out spots in and around households where stagnant water accumulates, keeping roads and neighborhoods clean, properly covering dustbins and trashcans, using mosquito repellents, and closing doors and windows of houses at sunrise and sunset to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
Highlighting the changes in meals and eating during the fasting month of Ramadan, HPA also urged people to wash their hands before handling food, to cook meat well, and to freeze and reheat leftovers. The agency also stressed the importance of properly washing fruits and vegetables that are consumed raw.
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