Health Protection Agency (HPA) has decided to start a filaria screening program planned across the country from Friday to assess the prevalence of filariasis among Maldivians and expatriates living in the Maldives.

In a press release issued today, HPA said the Maldives Red Crescent, Atoll Hospitals and Health Centers will be involved in the implementation of the program.

The screening programme will be held in all inhabited islands, some resorts and industrial islands, and a certain number of people from each island will be able to participate in the screening event.

Maldivians and foreigners above the age of 18 selected from the draw will be screened for filariasis using an antigen test kit based on blood, and the test results will be available within 10-15 minutes.

If anyone tests positive, the medicine used as a treatment for filariasis will be administered by a health worker, which has to be taken only once and the infected people can treat their disease and also prevent the spread of the disease from them to others.

Health workers will visit the houses selected by the draw to participate in the screening between 1600-2100hrs on Friday.

The announcement further stated that employers will be questioned to ensure that those selected from among expatriates are screened. Pre-testing will be carried out in some parts of Hulhumale' on Monday.

Filariasis, a disease that has been eradicated in the Maldives, was first detected in Kulhudhuffushi city in December. Twenty-six foreigners tested positive for filariasis in the city, while more than 500 people, including foreigners and Maldivians, were tested in the city.