Epidemic breaks out in Kelaa after the floods

After bad weather played havoc in Haa Alifu atoll last week and heavy rains caused flooding in a number of islands in the atoll, reports say that an epidemic has broken out in the island of Kelaa in the atoll.

Kelaa Health Centre said today that many people are being hospitalized and treated.

Speaking to Sun Online, Hussain Farooq, who is temporarily in-charge of administration of Kelaa Health Centre, said that a viral fever had been present in the island even before the flood, and that when the floods and bad weather caused damage to the sewerage system, it contributed to the deterioration of the conditions in the island.

Farooq also said that that many adults and children were suffering from fever and diarrhea and vomiting. He said that the Health Centre was hard put to handle the situation.

Farooq said that there is only one doctor at the Health Centre in Kelaa, which is open 24 hours to serve a population of 2200 people.

“Yesterday alone, 40 people had to be treated, and the daily figure is at 20 to 30. This is a very high number, and we are experiencing a lot of difficulty due to shortage of doctors”, said Farooq.

Abdullah Zubair, President of Kelaa Council, said that while the island was on alert due to the epidemic, it had run out of medicine. He also said that attempts to control the spread of the epidemic had been hampered by unavailability of not only medicine but other equipment as well. He also said that the Council had requested the National Disaster Management Centre for necessary equipment.

Ahmed Mohamed, State Minister at the Disaster Management Centre, said that the Centre was already trying to send medical supplies to Kelaa through Hoarafushi in the same atoll.