Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Tuesday warned of another outbreak of dengue in capital Male and nearby islands.
HPA stated that following the dengue outbreak in 2016, there is danger of the disease spreading this year as well. Hence, the agency urges the public to take precautions against mosquitoes.
Some of the steps encouraged by HPA include abolishing or emptying out spots in and around households where stagnant water accumulates, keeping roads and neighbourhoods 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.
The agency also urged people to seek medical attention should they notice dengue symptoms such as fever lasting over three days, decreased urine output, fatigue or bleeding.
There were around 2,000 cases of dengue last year while four people had died from the disease. While the cases were fewer in 2015, the outbreak had caused six deaths that year.