Maldives Sees Surge in COVID-19 and Dengue Cases as Officials Remain Silent to Protect Tourism Industry
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 29, 2025 1 day, 2 hours, 8 minutes ago
Medical News: Infections on the Rise but Official Silence Grows Louder
Despite a growing number of COVID-19 and dengue cases in the Maldives, government authorities appear to be deliberately withholding information from the public, raising concerns among medical professionals and citizens alike. The Health Protection Agency (HPA), the country’s primary public health authority, acknowledged last Thursday that there had been a noticeable increase in COVID-19 cases.
https://raajje.mv/166281
https://edition.mv/news/41417
Maldives Sees Surge in COVID-19 and Dengue Cases as Officials Remain Silent to Protect Tourism Industry
They also warned of a rise in other seasonal viral infections such as dengue, influenza, and viral fever. However, in a surprising turn, the agency has since gone silent, stopping all public updates and leaving the nation in the dark.
No new case numbers have been reported on the official HPA website, and social media updates have ceased. Meanwhile, hospitals and clinics across the island nation are reportedly seeing a steady rise in patients showing symptoms related to both COVID-19, dengue fever and other viral infections including flu. This
Medical News report aims to shed light on a troubling health crisis that is being buried under bureaucratic silence and the need to preserve the country’s tourist-friendly image.
The WHO has acknowledged that Maldives is one of the countries where COVID-19 infections is surging.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON572
Tourism Revenue Overshadows Public Health Transparency
The Maldives is heavily reliant on tourism for economic survival, with over 70 percent of its GDP tied directly or indirectly to the travel industry. With the country marketed globally as a pristine, safe destination, a rise in viral infections—especially COVID-19—could spell disaster for visitor arrivals. It is widely suspected that officials are now choosing to downplay or outright censor data about the outbreaks to protect this crucial economic lifeline.
Several insiders have hinted that reporting has been halted to prevent panic among tourists and avoid potential international travel advisories. Yet, many local residents have voiced concerns over a lack of transparency, noting that even basic public health alerts and sanitation campaigns have been quietly dropped in recent weeks.
Regional Trends Reinforce Concerns
Across South Asia, COVID-19 cases are spiking again, driven by newer subvariants and waning public vigilance. Neighboring countries such as India and Sri Lanka are also witnessing an uptick in hospital admissions and community transmissions. Given the proximity and
frequent travel between these nations, it is not surprising that the Maldives is seeing similar patterns.
In addition to COVID-19, dengue is becoming a growing threat. The Maldives typically sees a rise in dengue cases during the monsoon season, but doctors are now reporting that this year’s infections are appearing earlier and in larger numbers. Complicating matters, the symptoms of COVID-19 and dengue often overlap—fever, fatigue, headaches—which makes timely diagnosis and treatment even more difficult in the absence of widespread testing and reporting.
Call for Action and Public Awareness
The HPA did advise the public to follow basic safety measures such as wearing masks in crowded areas, ensuring good hygiene, and seeking prompt medical attention if unwell. However, without consistent updates or government support, public adherence to such measures has weakened. Tourists, unaware of the actual situation, continue to arrive in large numbers, often unmasked and untested.
Concluding, the Maldivian government's decision to prioritize tourism over public health transparency could have far-reaching consequences. Without open reporting, timely interventions are impossible, placing both locals and visitors at risk. While economic stability is important, it should not come at the cost of human lives and healthcare system overload. Transparency, proactive health communication, and early containment strategies remain vital to curbing any outbreak. The lack of such measures in the Maldives right now is not only alarming but could soon evolve into a full-scale public health emergency.
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/thailand-faces-serious-covid-19-crisis-as-71767-seek-hospital-care-in-a-week-along-with-10-deaths
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/local-australian-media-reports-that-sars-cov-2-nb-1-8-1-variant-is-driving-surge-of-covid-19-infections-in-western-australia
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-covid-19-infections-rising-across-pakistan-with-hospitalizations-also-increasing
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/pages/thailand_doctors_listings
Share
Tweet
Share
