Meningococcal Disease has surfaced in the Maldives.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirmed the discovery of the life-threatening disease in the island nation, on Tuesday.

The public health authority has announced the discovery of one case of Meningococcal Disease in the Maldives, so far, however, HPA did not disclose any other details.

Meningococcal is a life-threatening disease that causes severe swelling of tissues surrounding the back and brain, also known as Meningitis, or infection to the bloodstream, meningococcal septicemia or meningococcemia, and also causes rare cases of severe lung infection also known as pneumonia.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Meningococcal bacteria can spread through the transfer of blood, from the respiratory system, through coughing, sneezing, living in close quarters or getting intimate.

While everyone is at risk of contracting the virus, a specific group of individuals is at a higher risk of complications, including children under one year of age, children and youth between 16 – 23 years of age, young adults, college students, those suffering from specific health conditions affecting the immune system such as HIV, microbiologists who work regularly, those who are at risk due to an epidemic infection in their area or community, people traveling to and from a country where meningococcal disease is spreading and military recruits.

Experts have revealed that even with treatment, about one in six people with invasive meningococcal disease will succumb to the disease, sometimes even within 24 hours.

Further, about one in five survivors may experience major and permanent conditions such as brain damage, kidney damage, hearing loss, and loss of limbs including hands, feet, fingers and toes.

Some of the symptoms of the disease that surface at the beginning include those similar to that of influenza virus.

Usually, symptoms appear early and they include fever, headaches, tightening of throat muscles, a feeling of uncertainties, nausea, vomiting, fatigue as well as bruising.

It is likely that patients of the life-threatening disease may succumb to complications within 24 – 48 hours of contracting the disease.

It is advisable for people with these symptoms, especially those who experience mild or severe symptoms, to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

The public health authority has revealed that adherence to recommended vaccines is the best way to prevent meningococcal disease.

Although meningococcal disease can be treated with antibiotics, early treatment is essential to help reduce the risk of death.

Patients with meningococcal disease may need other treatments depending on the severity of infection, some of which include helping to breathe, taking medications to lower blood pressure, surgery to remove dead tissue caused by septicemia as well as treating lesions associated with septicemia.