Work underway to import 200,000 vaccines for measles

Health Minister Mohamed Ameen speaking at a news conference on January 13, 2020. The Minister stated that measles was spreading in the country and announced that steps were being taken to counter the disease thought to have been eradicated from the Maldives. (Sun Photo/Fayaz Moosa)

Health Minister Abdulla Ameen has stated that 30,000 vaccines for measles will be imported to the Maldives by tomorrow.

Four cases of measles have been spotted in the Maldives so far in 2020, and the Minister stated that work to prevent the disease from spreading any further was being conducted.

Around 79 people have been tested for the disease so far. No one was tested positive for the disease in the last two days, according to the Minister.

“3,100 have been vaccinated so far,” said the Minister, who also stated that the number of people who have not vaccinated has been almost identified. Further information collected will reveal an exact figure, according to the Minister.

Work to import 200,000 vaccines in collaboration with WHO and UNICEF are also underway.

By Ahmedulla Abdul Hadi

Journalist