The World Health Organisation (WHO) has donated Mpox test kits to the Maldives as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s response to the virus. The donation was handed over by WHO Medical Officer Dr. Padmal de Silva and received by Minister of State for Health Ismail Shareef on behalf of the Maldives. The Ministry of Health affirmed that these test kits would play a vital role in enhancing the country's ability to prevent and control the spread of Mpox.
WHO declared the Mpox outbreak a global emergency on August 14, following a surge in cases in Congo and several African nations, as well as in countries beyond the continent. The outbreak has been classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR). The virus has also spread to some South Asian countries.
In response, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has been actively monitoring the situation and taking preventive steps to mitigate the risk of Mpox transmission in the Maldives. The agency is assessing the local risk, formulating control strategies, and preparing to conduct tests and provide treatment if necessary. HPA is also raising awareness among healthcare workers, the general public, and immigrants, while bolstering disease surveillance efforts.
Mpox, while primarily transmitted through sexual contact, can also spread through the exchange of bodily fluids and respiratory droplets from an infected person. Everyday items such as bedsheets, towels, and clothing shared with an infected individual can also carry the virus. Additionally, transmission from infected animals, such as during hunting, skinning, or cooking, is possible. Symptoms of Mpox include fever, body aches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes. WHO reports that most cases have been identified outside Congo, often linked to sexual transmission.