Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has established a dedicated help desk to manage patients presenting with fever and rash, as health authorities respond to a recent increase in measles cases in the Maldives.

In a statement, the hospital said the desk has been set up near the ambulance portico of the Adult Emergency Care Unit (Main Emergency Room) to streamline and expedite care for individuals exhibiting symptoms consistent with measles.

The service will operate daily from 08:00 am to 11:00 pm.

The development follows the confirmation of seven measles cases so far this year, with more than 74 contacts identified.

The resurgence comes despite the Maldives previously being declared measles-free.

IGMH has advised members of the public, including children and pregnant women, to seek assessment at the help desk if they develop symptoms such as fever accompanied by a red rash.

After 11:00 pm, patients requiring urgent care are instructed to proceed directly to the hospital’s emergency units adults and pregnant women to the Main Emergency Room, and children to the Paediatric Emergency Room.

To minimise the risk of transmission, the hospital has urged symptomatic individuals to wear masks when visiting and to limit the number of accompanying persons.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has also called on the public to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear.

According to the agency, measles symptoms include fever, cough, sneezing, red rash, and red eyes.

The disease is highly contagious and can spread from four days before the onset of the rash to four days after.

HPA further explained that the virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes, highlighting the importance of early detection in preventing further spread.

The measles-rubella (MR) vaccine was introduced in the Maldives in 1983, and the World Health Organization declared the country measles-free in 2017.

However, imported cases have been reported in recent years, prompting renewed vigilance among health authorities.