Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Saturday, December 23, reports of ongoing efforts to screen patients for the possibility of Filaria in Greater Malé region.
The efforts come following the discovery of an Indian expatriate with Filaria in Hulhumalé, while previously a total of 25 expatriates working at Kulhudhuffushi tested positive for the disease.
HPA on Saturday confirmed testing 452 people through its ongoing screening program in Kulhudhuffushi City and the Greater Malé region. It added that the screening program would continue to test other expatriates working in the region.
Filariasis was successfully eradicated from the Maldives in the past. The recent resurgence of the disease is believed to be rooted in the Maldives government's decision to halt medical checkups for expatriate workers in 2020.
Additionally, health authorities report lackluster efforts in recent years, especially in 2022, towards screening expatriates through medical checkups. The insufficient efforts by health authorities have raised concerns among industry professionals.
HPA on Saturday issued a statement confirming that the Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital (KRH) has established a special task force, including Kulhudhuffushi City Council members and other relevant agencies, to screen and counter Filariasis. HPA further reported the formation of a Health Emergency Coordination Committee in the Greater Malé region, which has commenced its efforts in screening patients as well.
The agency also revealed of ongoing efforts to establish a more sophisticated system to screen patients from the areas with discoveries of Filaria. HPA added it was taking necessary steps on the expatriates according to World Health Organization (WHO)'s counsel.
HPA confirmed screening programs in Malé, Vilimalé, Hulhumalé, Thilafushi, and Kulhudhuffushi City. The agency further said that it was working on procuring necessary test kits for the screening with the assistance of WHO.
As the disease is caused by a type of mosquito, HPA added that it has initiated efforts to control the mosquito population and raise awareness about the disease among the public.
HPA also confirmed that majority of the expatriates positive for Filaria are Indian and Bangladeshi nationals, who belong to regions with Filaria endemics. The agency further said that the Filaria patients originate from India's Uttar Pradesh, Gopalganj, and Tamil Nadu as well as the Comilla region of Bangladesh.
Filariasis is caused by a chronic mosquito-borne parasitic infection, which can lead to swelling of the extremities, hydroceles, and testicular masses. The disease is usually caused by Culex pipiens, a type of mosquito found in congested or dirty water.
Despite contracting the disease, symptoms may remain dormant for an extended period of time.
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