The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has reported 55 new measles cases over the past week, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the Maldives to 121 so far this year.

The agency has urged anyone experiencing fever or a rash to seek medical attention promptly and wear a face mask when visiting a healthcare facility. Individuals suspected of having measles have also been advised to self-isolate until test results are confirmed and avoid public gatherings if they develop symptoms.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the measles virus, which belongs to the Morbillivirus genus of the Paramyxovirus family. Although the disease is most common among children, it can affect people of all ages. 

Health authorities stated that an infected person can transmit the virus from four days before the appearance of the characteristic rash until four days after it develops. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes, with health experts noting that around 90 per cent of susceptible individuals exposed to the virus are at risk of becoming infected.

The HPA also reminded the public that the MR vaccine, administered at nine months of age, protects against both measles and rubella. The MR and MMR vaccines continue to be provided under the Maldives' national immunisation programme as the primary means of preventing the disease.