Kulhudhuffushi to Begin Mosquito Breeding Ground Inspections Amid Dengue Surge

Kulhudhuffushi City Council has decided to begin inspections of mosquito breeding grounds across the city from Saturday as dengue cases continue to rise.

According to the Health Protection Agency (HPA), more than 2,000 dengue fever cases have been reported across the Maldives so far this year, marking a significant increase compared to the same period last year.

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The agency said 57.94 percent of all dengue cases reported this year were recorded in Kulhudhuffushi. Kulhudhuffushi Hospital Director Mohamed Hussain said 147 people have been admitted to the hospital since April 21, with most patients from the island.

In response to the outbreak, the council has formed a dengue task force to strengthen control measures. The task force is scheduled to inspect residential areas for mosquito breeding sites from Saturday to Monday. Teams will visit households in Kulhudhuffushi between 08:00 and 18:00 each day.

The council has urged residents to remove mosquito breeding grounds and maintain cleanliness in their homes and abandoned plots. Two dengue-related deaths were reported last month, involving a 17-year-old and a 23-year-old.

As part of efforts to contain the spread of the disease, the HPA and other agencies jointly inspected more than 300 locations in the city last month. Addu City Council also launched a clean-up campaign last month as part of its dengue prevention efforts.

Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has also been conducting its ‘Dengue Ijaaba’ dengue prevention and control programme in Hulhumale’.

Dengue remains one of the most common diseases in the Maldives, with increased rainfall during this period contributing to mosquito breeding.

The disease is spread through the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito and can become severe and life-threatening in some cases, although some infected individuals recover without showing symptoms.