Cyprus is fully prepared to deal with an incident positive for the monkeypox virus, the Director of Medical Services and Public Health Services, Dr. Elisavet Constantinou, who assured that there is enough vaccines in the adult vaccination centers, so that anyone who wishes can be vaccinated.
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Speaking at KYPE, on the occasion of the worldwide alarm, as monkey pox now also exists outside of Africa, with the first cases having been identified in Europe and Asia, Ms. Constantinou stated that there is no cause for concern, since He noted that since 2022, when the World Health Organization had again declared the same virus as a public health event of international concern, Cyprus has treated five cases since then until today.
According to Dr. Constantinou, incident management protocols already exist and are being implemented, while he noted that Cyprus is able to laboratory diagnose, isolate, treat and manage such an incident.
Communication with Personal Physicians or TAEP in case of illness
He added that if someone has the symptoms and believes he has contracted the disease he will he must either contact his personal physician, or the Emergency Departments of the State Health Services Organization (OKYpY).
In addition, he mentioned that Nicosia General Hospital for adults and Makarios Hospital for children have been designated as Reference Centers, to note that the protocols followed have been put into effect since 2022.
When asked where the cases will be treated if and if necessary, Dr. Constantinou said that if a case needs to be hospitalized, it will be done at the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the Nicosia General Hospital.
However, he said that several of the cases have a mild to moderate picture and isolation at home is usually recommended.
When asked when someone should proceed with vaccination, the Director of Medical Services said that the Ministry of Health recommends to vaccinate people who are going to travel to the areas where the virus is endemic, i.e. the areas of Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, etc.
Vaccination is also recommended for people, who are health professionals and treat such cases or people who are involved in the hospitalization and care of such cases or close contacts of cases, that is, either the partners of volumes affected by the virus, or people who live in the same house.
In addition, he emphasized that it is recommended that immunosuppressed people receive the vaccine, but anyone else who wishes can be vaccinated.
Symptoms
Monkeypox, also known as Monkeypox, is caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox, but is usually much less harmful.
Originally transmitted from animals to humans, but now also transmitted between humans.
Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, swelling, pain in back and muscle pain. Once the fever subsides, a rash may appear.
Infection lasts from 14 to 21 days.
WHO and ECDC are studying Clade 1 very carefully
In response to a related question, Dr. Constantinou said that the reason there is concern from the WHO is the rapid increase in the number of cases in African countries, which has been observed both in cases and in deaths.
He explained that the increase according to laboratory findings is due to a variant of the virus, which is called Clade 1, to add that this variant is estimated to be somewhat more contagious than the previous strain that existed.
As both the WHO and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) added, they are at the stage where they are studying very carefully and collecting data on the behavior of the virus.
Low risk of disease for those who will not travel
It is noted that the first case on European soil was detected yesterday in Sweden, with the WHO declaring a state of emergency for monkey pox.
However, yesterday evening ECDC Europe issued a risk assessment and has stated that citizens of European countries, who do not intend to travel to these countries, have a “very low risk” of getting sick.
The wave of Covid 19 infections subsides
Also, to a question about the numbers of cases from Covid 19, Mrs. Constantinou said that a “significant decrease” was recorded, compared to the previous week.
As she said, a decrease is observed both in the number of positive cases, as well as in hospitalizations.
“It seems that we are in a phase of retreat of the small wave”, concluded Mrs. Constantinou.
Source: KYPE
