Urbanco launches campaign in Hulhumale’ to control spread of Filariasis

Urbanco has launched a special campaign to control the spread of Filariasis in Hulhumale’ after the disease was discovered from a migrant in the suburb.

The campaign titled ‘Filaria in Rahkka’ which translates to protection against Filaria has many activities in the pipeline.

In this regard, efforts are underway to identify and eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds by dividing Hulhumule’ into 12 zones. Urbanco also said they have decided to carry out a mega-cleaning project in collaboration with residents residing in these zones, school children, government offices and companies.

“In addition to this, awareness sessions will be carried out starting December 26^th [Tuesday] for schools and employees of government and private companies,” they noted.

Urbanco also noted that a health screening program had been conducted for the migrant population in Hulhumale’ in collaboration with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) two days ago after the first positive case from Hulhumale’ had come to light.

Random sampling had also been carried out in different areas of Hulhumale’, Thilafushi and Gulhifalhu yesterday, they added.

Urbanco appealed for public’s cooperation in the course of these activities.

Cases of filariasis - a disease which was eradicated from Maldives in 2016 – was originally detected from Kulhudhuffushi City.

16 cases of filariasis were detected during a health screening camp targeting the city’s migrant population on December 14 – run by the Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital in collaboration with HPA and other health agencies.

Since then, the number of cases in the northern city has risen to 25.

The first case outside of Kulhudhuffushi was detected on Friday – one out of 13 migrant workers who were tested during a migrant fair in Hulhumale’.

HPA confirmed six more cases from the greater Male’ area and on Sunday.

According to HPA, the six new cases were detected during screening of 89 migrants in Male’, Hulhumale’, Vilimale’, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi over the weekend.

Five of the new cases were from Hulhumale, and one was from Male’ City.

According to HPA, total 683 people have been screened for the disease from Kulhudhuffushi – 439 migrants and 155 Maldivians.

25 tested positive.

The new cases increase total filariasis cases in the Maldives to 32.

So far, the cases have been restricted to the country’s migrant population.

Filariasis is a disease caused by a chronic mosquito-borne parasitic infection. Chronic infection can lead to swelling of the extremities, hydroceles, and testicular masses. It is the second-largest cause of permanent deformity and disability behind leprosy worldwide.

HPA has stated that the migrants who tested positive for filariasis originated from endemic countries.