In view of the identification of increased cases of monkeypox disease worldwide since the beginning of May, with a total of 219 confirmed cases up to 25 May 2022, the Department of Health has proceeded to develop protocols for the management of the disease, including the following:
- Definition of the management procedure for suspected and confirmed cases,
- Recording of cases on the basis of a newly defined procedure from the public health point of view (contact tracing, communication of cases, etc.) by the Unit for Epidemiological Surveillance and Control of Infectious Diseases of the Medical and Public Health Services,
- Determination of the procedure for the transfer of suspected cases,
- Designation of Nicosia General Hospital as the referral hospital for suspected or confirmed adult cases and Makareios Hospital for children.
- Initiation of procedures for the development of methodologies for laboratory testing of the disease by the microbiology laboratory of the Nicosia General Hospital and the molecular virology laboratory of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics,
- Agreement with laboratories abroad for possible direct shipment of samples,
- Declaration of participation in a joint European procurement for the purchase of a vaccine,
- Declaration of participation in a joint European procurement for the purchase of antiviral drugs,
- Determination of the management of a possible suspicious incident at the gates of the Republic of Cyprus.
It is emphasised that based on the epidemiological data available so far, the risk to the general population is low, as the disease is usually mild and self-limiting with relatively low transmissibility. In our country no suspected case of monkeypox has been recorded so far.
(AΦ)
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