Cyprus rolling up sleeves to combat Monkeypox

Health officials in Cyprus are preparing a reaction plan in the event of a monkeypox epidemic, which includes a vaccine campaign. 

In order to combat the Monkeypox virus spread in Cyprus, health ministry officials will meet with epidemiologists and pharmaceutical specialists on Tuesday.

Dr. Elisavet Constantinou who is the DIrector for the MEdical Services in Cyprus has verified that authorities are planning to put together a national strategy to combat the virus's arrival.

"We will be examining at just how health care services will manage suspected cases, monitoring concerns, the isolation procedure for patients and contacts, and the necessity for diagnosis laboratories, while access points to the republic may be a worry," added Dr. Constantinou.

PCR tests for monkeypox are already being developed by experts in other countries, Constantinou replied when asked if authorities were considering deploying PCR testing.

In other words, "We have our ideas, but meetings must be finished, and the current government will take whatever choices they have to ."

In response to a question from the European Commission, Constantinou claimed there were no vaccinations in Cyprus that might protect against monkeypox, but it had been discussed.

European Union countries are awaiting guidance from the World Health Organization as well as the European CDC (Centre for Disease Control), she added.

According to Constantinou, there is no evidence that monkeypox would become an epidemic like COVID, necessitating the use of restrictive measures by the government.

Cases of monkeypox have been documented in 12 countries where monkeypox is not prevalent since May, as per the World Health Organization (WHO).

At least nine European nations, including Australia, Canada and the United States have reported cases of the disease, which was originally named for the monkeys from where it was initially discovered.

So far, there have been no fatalities.

The United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal, and Spain have been particularly hard struck.

Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, as well as France are other countries that have recorded instances.

There have been no confirmed travel ties to endemic regions for any of the reported cases.

Cases have been detected primarily but not exclusively among homosexual males in general care and sexual health clinics.

Doctors and hospitals around the country will soon get guidelines from the Health Ministry on how to respond to probable monkeypox cases.

betbejoiMuscle problems, joint pain, fever and an itchy rash might emerge between12 to 21 days post infection.

Up to 10% of people who have this disease die as a result of it, as statistics for Africa show.