A child has tested positive for measles in Addu City.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said that in addition to the child who tested positive for measles, another child suspected of having it in Addu has been identified, and they are being tested for confirmation.

HPA said that as these two children have passed the infection period, there is no possibility of further spread of the disease.

However, it was not disclosed what age these children were or which island of Addu where the case was found.

As measles is an eradicated disease in the Maldives, even a single case of the disease would be considered an outbreak according to HPA. Therefore, as per the codes of conduct for such a scenario, the Equatorial Hospital is working to identify contacts and the cause of the disease under the advice of the HPA. HPA said vaccinations for those who need it will be started soon.

The main symptoms of measles are a fever and red spots on the skin. In addition, some symptoms such as coughing, runny nose and red eyes may also occur. Therefore, if you notice such symptoms, HPA says to seek the advice of a health worker immediately.

HPA said they will continue to provide more information as it becomes available through the investigation of the measles case and contact tracing.