HPA stated that 46 contacts of the recently surfaced meningococcal disease have been identified through tracing, and their assessments so far indicate that the spread of the disease seems unlikely.
Health Protection Agency (HPA) has revealed that 46 contacts of the recently surfaced case of Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) have been identified through tracing.
While no official sources have confirmed the identity of patient zero, local reports suggest that Maldivian football legend and former midfielder of the Maldivian national team, Mohamed Arif (Baka), who passed away on Tuesday, June 25 while receiving treatment in the ICU of ADK for critical fever and flu-like symptoms, had tested positive for the disease.
HPA took swift action to counter the spread of the disease following its appearance. The agency collected information, conducted contact tracing, and informed those who came into contact with Arif about the disease. Preventative prophylactic medicine was also administered to close contacts.
Providing further details on the disease, HPA's Deputy Director General of Public Health, Ibrahim Ashraf, told state media Public Service Media (PSM) last night that the chances of the disease spreading are highly unlikely according to their assessments so far.
Ashraf said that medication and vaccination for the disease were administered to those identified through contact tracing, as well as to those instructed by doctors.
Ministry of Health also stated that although a case of meningococcal disease was found in Maldives two days ago, there is no reason to initiate mass vaccinations as the disease has not been identified as having spread.
Getting vaccinated for meningococcal disease is recommended for those traveling to Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage, or to countries where there is a risk of contracting the disease, the Ministry said. HPA also issued advisories for those at risk of contracting the disease on their social media handles.
Annual data collected by the World Health Organization (WHO) on reported cases and incidences of IMD show that three cases of the disease had appeared in Maldives over the past six years. Two of these cases were reported in 2023 with the most recent case confirmed by HPA on Tuesday.
Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. The bacteria causes two types of meningococcal infections which are meningococcal meningitis and meningococcal septicemia.
With meningococcal septicemia infection, the bacteria enter the bloodstream and damage the walls of blood vessels, causing bleeding in the skin and organs. In meningococcal meningitis infections, the bacteria affect the meninges, causing acute inflammation of the tissue and fluids surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Although both infections are serious and can be deadly in a matter of hours, HPA has assured that vaccination can prevent contraction of the disease.
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