Maldives certified filaria-free, screenings to be done regardless

Ministry of Health has announced that the government would not cease screening for filariasis (filarial), even though the country has been declared filarial-free by World Health Organization.

WHO declared Maldives filarial-free on June 3, but officially handed over the certificate in a ceremony held at Bandos Island Resort, by WHO - South East Asia Regional Director Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh.

Maldives was awarded the certificate after eliminating filarial as a public health problem by lowering cases of filarial to below 1 percent of the total population of Maldives.

The certificate was accepted on behalf of Maldivian government by Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim.

A case of filaria was reported last in 2004, from L. Fonadhoo.

Ministry of Health announced that expatriates and children will be screened for filarial regardless of the certificate to prevent the disease from appearing again.

The authority also said that it would continue providing assistance to filarial patients – including providing advice regarding how to keep the feet clean, and teaching exercises for the feet.

Filaria is a parasitic disease caused by an infection with roundworms of the Filarioidea type. The disease is transmitted through blood-feeding black flies and mosquitoes.