Maldives Records Decline in Communicable Diseases, Stats Show

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has released its Monthly Communicable Disease Report and Situation Update for June 2025, revealing encouraging progress in the control of key communicable diseases, while also underscoring areas that require continued public health vigilance.

Dengue Cases Continue to Fall

Official data from the HPA confirms that 159 dengue cases were reported nationwide in June, reflecting a slight decline from the 173 cases documented in May. The year-on-year reduction is even more pronounced, with June 2024 recording over 500 cases. Officials attribute this trend to sustained mosquito control efforts, public education campaigns, and improved sanitation practices at the household and community levels.

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Dengue fever remains one of four major communicable diseases under close surveillance across the country. The other three are:

• Viral Fever
  
• Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI)
  
• Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE)
  

These conditions are tracked on a monthly basis, with incidence rates measured per 10,000 population across each atoll.

Significant Progress in Key Categories

The HPA’s internal surveillance data suggests notable reductions in high-priority disease categories:

• One primary group has seen an estimated 79% decrease compared to June 2024.
  
• Another category has recorded a 66% decline year-on-year.
  

While these figures have not been disaggregated in public-facing summaries, they reflect the broader gains being made through targeted interventions and community mobilisation.

However, the agency noted that some health indicators have shown increases. In two broad categories, reported cases rose from 27,944 to 32,718 and 27,777 to 39,059, respectively. This may reflect better case detection and expanded diagnostic access, according to health officials.

COVID-19 Surveillance and Testing Efforts Continue

The June report also includes an update on COVID-19 monitoring:

• 608 tests were conducted during the month.
  
• 185 positive cases were identified, indicating a moderate increase in positivity rates since May.
  

This surveillance remains crucial, particularly as public gatherings and inbound travel activity return to pre-pandemic levels.

Monitoring Trends Across the Islands

The HPA conducted 1,489 dengue tests in June 2025, resulting in 371 positive detections — a positivity rate of approximately 25%. The public is urged to continue taking preventative measures, including:

• Using repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or OLE
  
• Eliminating standing water in residential areas
  
• Seeking early medical care for symptoms
  

The agency’s long-term datasets, covering 2022 to 2025, continue to reveal seasonal trends. These patterns have proven instrumental in preempting outbreaks and refining localised response strategies.