On August 14, WHO declared a monkeypox emergency of international concern. Cypriot medical facilities are prepared for possible cases of infection, and the authorities see no reason to panic.
The Cyprus News Agency spoke with the Director of the Medical and Health Services, Dr. Elisavet Constantinou.
Dr. Constantinou noted that WHO has already declared the spread of monkeypox in Africa as an international emergency in 2022. Since then, cases of infection have been recorded in dozens of countries, and in Cyprus over these two years, five cases were identified and successfully recovered.
Elisavet Constantinou also emphasized that Cyprus has the ability to conduct laboratory tests to identify cases of monkeypox, there are working protocols for diagnosing and treating patients, and there is a sufficient number of vaccines.
For the isolation and treatment of cases of smallpox infection, the Nicosia State Hospital for Adults and the Nicosia Hospital have been designated since 2022. Archbishop Makarios III for children. Patients with mild or moderate symptoms can be isolated at home and treated outside the hospital.
The doctor said that vaccination is recommended for those who plan to travel to countries with a large number of infected people (Congo, Nigeria, etc.), as well as for those who are involved in the treatment and care of a patient with monkeypox and family members and loved ones of the patient. In principle, anyone can get vaccinated.
Possible symptoms of the disease:
•skin irritations of unknown etiology in any part of the body, •and one or more of the following symptoms: high temperature (above 38.5), headache, back pain, feeling tired, swollen lymph nodes; • a positive test result for orthopoxvirus; • or exposure to a confirmed or probable carrier of the virus within three weeks before the onset of symptoms; • or travel to countries where monkeypox is common within three weeks before the onset of symptoms;• or multiple sexual contacts with different partners in the three weeks before the onset of symptoms.
Also, a likely carrier of the virus may be a person with spots, papules, blisters, pustules, crusts and scars, who suffers from enlarged lymph nodes and one of the following symptoms: temperature of 38.5 and above, headache, back pain, fatigue.
The text was prepared based on materials from Sigma
On topic
In 2022, the Ministry of Health issued a protocol on monkeypox. It lists the symptoms of the disease. More details at the link.
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