The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has confirmed two more cases of measles, bringing the total number of infections in the current outbreak to 22.

Measles, which was declared eliminated in the Maldives in 2017, reappeared earlier this year. Since the initial cases were detected, the number of confirmed infections has continued to rise.

In an update, the HPA urged the public to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms related to the disease.

The agency advised anyone with a high fever and a skin rash to visit a healthcare facility promptly.

Additionally, the HPA recommended that individuals seeking treatment for suspected measles wear a mask and avoid using public transportation when traveling to healthcare centers.

Those being tested for measles have been instructed to stay in isolation until laboratory results are available.

The agency also urged anyone showing symptoms to stay away from crowded places to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.

Although measles had been eradicated in the Maldives, a small number of cases were identified in 2023. Health authorities successfully contained that outbreak without widespread transmission.

As part of ongoing prevention efforts, the HPA has emphasized the importance of ensuring all individuals are vaccinated with both doses of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The agency has also been vaccinating healthcare workers to help prevent further spread.

Health officials are actively monitoring the situation, conducting contact tracing, and maintaining surveillance to manage the outbreak.