E. Konstantinou said that the medical services are vigilant about MPOX and the risk is very low

The Director General of Medical Services and Public Health Services, Elisavet Constantinou, told KYPE that the competent medical services have been on alert to respond to any cases of monkeypox detected in Cyprus, although the risk of such a situation is very low. He said that five incidents have been detected in Cyprus so far in 2022.

“We at the Ministry of Health are assessing our preparedness, that is, we are looking at all the available resources we have and updating our protocols. We value our preparedness every day, and we deal with this. As soon as there is an alert for a public health event, an emergency, we are obliged to deal with it. From 2022 to date, there have been only five incidents in Cyprus.”

“We are on alert, we are on standby, we are preparing, although the risk is very low. We attend all the meetings of the competent bodies of the World Health Organization ECDC every day,” he added.

Ms. Constantinou mentioned that vaccinations are available every day at adult vaccination centers in all cities, and if anyone wants to be vaccinated, they can do so.

He also said there are some recommendations and suggestions for travelers going to countries where the outbreak has occurred, namely African countries.

“We recommend that they get vaccinated before visiting these countries and take care to avoid contact and communication with people who have a rash and may have the disease,” he noted.

When asked, she said “we also have pharmaceutical preparations, we have stocks, we also have enough stocks of effective vaccines”.

He also said that the relevant diagnostic methods are being applied in two centers, the Nicosia General Hospital, the Microbiology Laboratory and the Institute of Neurology and Genetics, which are in place and are already conducting tests.

“According to the ECDC risk assessment, for EU citizens who have not travelled or do not intend to travel to the outbreak area, the probability of contracting the disease is very low. The risk is very low,” he noted.

He stressed that more attention should be paid to vulnerable groups, the oppressed, the elderly, and people with long-term diseases. “They should avoid contact with people who are diagnosed and may have the disease, avoid going to crowded places, and take personal protective measures such as washing hands.”