2 children with measles fully vaccinated: Hospital

Addu Equatorial Hospital revealed on Tuesday that the two children infected with measles, which has been declared eliminated in the Maldives, have been fully vaccinated against the disease.

Children in Maldives are given two mandatory doses of measles vaccine and MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. 

Addu Equatorial Hospital CEO Dr Mohamed Solih told Atoll Times that the two infected children had received all doses of measles vaccine and MMR vaccine.

Even if a person gets vaccinated, there is always a chance of getting infected. According to the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), three out of 100 people who have received two doses of the measles vaccine can still contract the disease. The cause of this has not been confirmed, but it could be because the body's immune system does not respond adequately to the vaccine, or that various strands are exposed via traveling, according to the CDC.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has announced an outbreak of measles on Monday after the re-emergence of a disease declared to have been eliminated from the Maldives.

However, in the two children identified, the duration of infection (infectious period) had passed, so there was no possibility of further infection from them at this time.

In a statement, HPA said:

In case of these symptoms, it is advisable to consult a health worker without delay.