WHO remains to supportive to the Government of Maldives in strengthening the prevention, detection and control of measles and dengue, working closely with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Health Protection Agency, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and other national partners to reinforce the country’s capacity to respond effectively to disease outbreaks.
As the Maldives responds to increased cases of measles and dengue, WHO’s support has focused on strengthening several critical areas of outbreak response; from laboratory diagnostics and clinical management to vaccination strategies, vector control, surveillance and workforce capacity.
Timely recognition and appropriate clinical management are essential to reducing complications and preventing deaths during disease outbreaks.
With technical support from WHO, the Health Protection Agency, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, conducted a Training of Trainers programme on the clinical management of dengue, influenza and measles. The training equipped healthcare professionals with updated knowledge and skills to support timely diagnosis, appropriate case management, early recognition of complications and strengthened preparedness and response across the Maldives.
By developing a pool of trained professionals who can further disseminate knowledge within the health system, the programme contributed to strengthening clinical readiness beyond the immediate outbreak response. For dengue prevention and control, WHO is also supporting the procurement of essential vector control materials to strengthen national efforts to reduce mosquito breeding and transmission.
Reliable and timely laboratory testing is a cornerstone of measles surveillance and outbreak control. As testing demand increased, WHO worked with national and regional partners to strengthen laboratory capacity and ensure access to essential diagnostic supplies.
WHO supported the provision of Measles/Rubella IgM ELISA kits and 5,000 units of Universal Transport Media with dual swabs to support specimen collection and laboratory confirmation.
Additional diagnostic supplies, including Measles IgG Avidity kits, were mobilized to further strengthen testing capacity. WHO, through its Regional Office for South-East Asia, also initiated procurement of additional molecular testing supplies, including SuperScript III Platinum One-Step qRT-PCR kits and QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kits. Measles Real-Time PCR kits and positive extraction controls were also facilitated through the relevant international laboratory network to support increased testing requirements.
WHO additionally provided technical support for interim laboratory testing guidance during a period of constrained PCR capacity, helping ensure that available diagnostic resources could be used strategically while maintaining effective surveillance.
WHO also facilitated an on-site accreditation review of the national measles and rubella laboratory at IGMH, conducted by experts from WHO SEARO and the regional laboratory network. The review assessed laboratory quality assurance, biosafety practices and testing protocols, provided on-the-job training on additional diagnostic techniques to support the investigation of breakthrough infections, and provided recommendations for further strengthening of laboratory capacity.
Alongside laboratory support, WHO has continued to work closely with HPA and relevant technical teams at the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia to monitor the epidemiological situation and guide response measures. Joint technical discussions were facilitated between HPA, WHO Maldives and the Regional Office to review strategies to contain the resurgence of measles, including approaches for supplementary immunization activities, optimizing available vaccine doses and prioritizing populations at higher risk. Regular coordination and technical updates with HPA have supported the continuous review of the evolving situation and adaptation of response measures as needed. WHO has also worked with HPA to explore additional surge capacity for the response, including human resource support and training volunteers to assist with contact tracing and case investigation.
Understanding how the measles virus is circulating is important for tracing transmission patterns and informing outbreak response. WHO supported the shipment of measles specimens for further analysis through the regional laboratory network, with results shared with the national team. Additional specimen shipments for genotyping are being coordinated with the Regional Reference Laboratory in Thailand and the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia.WHO is also facilitating laboratory supervision and monitoring support from the Regional Office’s immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases technical team to further strengthen national laboratory and surveillance capacities.
The response to measles and dengue demonstrates the importance of sustained investment in preparedness before, during and after an outbreak.
WHO’s support to the Maldives combines immediate response measures; including diagnostic supplies, clinical training, laboratory support and vector control materials; with longer-term capacity building to strengthen surveillance, clinical preparedness, laboratory systems and the health workforce.
These efforts complement the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, HPA, healthcare facilities and communities working to interrupt disease transmission and protect people across the country. WHO remains committed to supporting the Maldives in strengthening its capacity to prevent, rapidly detect and effectively respond to communicable disease threats, while building a more resilient health system capable of responding to future public health emergencies.