Three children have tested positive for Pertussis (Whooping Cough) in GA. Vilingili.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said in a statement that three children have tested positive for the disease this month and that although the disease has been brought under control in the Maldives following the introduction of vaccination to prevent the disease, cases of the disease are rare in the Maldives.

Efforts have been made after a positive case was detected in the city. These include

  • IGMH and GA. Atoll Hospital are conducting contact tracing of confirmed cases in collaboration
  • Antibiotic prophylaxis for contacts of those who have tested positive for the disease, children below one year of age and pregnant women in their last trimester
  • Testing of symptomatic contacts for the disease
  • Giving medicines to symptomatic contacts
  • GA. Atoll Hospital has formed a special task force and is coordinating with the island's institutions to control the disease.

"Pertussis is transmitted through the respiratory tract. The first symptoms of pertussis occur in common colds. In addition, a few weeks later, there is a lot of coughing and this cough prolongs for a long time. Infants may also experience some other symptoms. If a fully vaccinated child or adult is diagnosed with the disease, there may not be any major symptoms of the disease," HPA said in a statement.

The statement added that infants are at high risk from contracting the disease and therefore, children below seven years of age who have not completed their doses are advised to get vaccinated as soon as possible and must be vaccinated at a health care facility in the island.

Additionally, patients with fever and cough are advised to consult a health care worker without delay if they have long-term complications, have any other long-term treatment condition, or are infants or pregnant.