Ministry of Education has refuted the claims of Tuberculosis (TB) disease outbreak in schools after a student from Center for Higher Education Studies (CHSE) was rumoured to be tested positive for the disease.
A student from Grade 12 at CHSE was heavily rumored to have tested positive for TB and the students along with teachers from the class were also screened for TB as a response. However, CHSE principal Aishath Safoora denied that the school would release such information to any media. She added that there is a TB screening program ongoing at CHSE under an initiative from the education ministry and health ministry.
Moreover, Health Ministry’s Information Officer, Fathimath Shuba, said that the Health Protection Agency (HPA) does routine TB screening as part of the efforts to eradicate TB. She added that although TB is commonly found in adults and even children in some cases, there is currently no TB outbreak in the community.
Furthermore, Education Ministry has released an official statement denying the claims of a TB outbreak in schools and advised the media to not spread false information that may cause worry and anxiety among parents and students.
TB cases are reported very rarely in the Maldives and the country has set a goal to eradicate the disease by 2025.
