Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Geela Ali has said the measles outbreak in the Maldives remains under control, with the Government continuing to implement measures to prevent further transmission of the disease.

Speaking in Parliament, Minister Geela said measles has been circulating in the Maldives since May, with the majority of confirmed cases reported in the Greater Malé Region. She stressed that while measles is highly contagious, the situation has not escalated beyond control and there is no need for public alarm.

The Minister said measles spreads rapidly but also has a relatively short recovery period, adding that the Government is taking the necessary steps to control the outbreak and limit further transmission. She also said a more detailed briefing on the situation would be provided to Parliament separately.

Minister Geela noted that the risk of widespread transmission remains low due to the Maldives' high vaccination coverage, with around 99 per cent of the population immunised against the disease. She added that the outbreak has not shown signs of worsening.

Addressing concerns raised by opposition MPs over the availability of measles testing, the Minister said testing services are available at health facilities across the Maldives, including in Malé. She assured Parliament that testing kits remain available nationwide and that there are no shortages despite delays associated with imported supplies.

The Maldives has recorded 121 confirmed measles cases so far this year, including 55 cases reported during the past week. Health authorities are continuing contact tracing and testing, while 5,495 people have received the measles vaccine as part of the ongoing response.