Cyprus is fully ready to handle cases of monkeypox, Minister of Health, Michalis Hadjipantela, said on Sunday, adding that tests will be conducted on the island if this is needed.
Asked if Cyprus is ready to face monkeypox cases, the Minister said that “we are all ready. Three to four days ago we had a suspected case that was handled in an excellent way in Nicosia General Hospital,” he added.
Replying to questions, Hadjipantela noted that there is an increase of monkeypox cases worldwide, but Cyprus is well prepared to address any such situation.
Moreover he said that if necessary, tests can be done in Cyprus and this happened with the suspected case for which a test was conducted at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics.
Later on, the Health Ministry’s spokesperson, Constantinos Athanasiou, told CNA that the incident with a suspected rash, that was treated in Nicosia General Hospital, was a chickenpox case.
Athanasiou said that in the evening of June 1st a 31-year-old woman visited Larnaca General Hospital with a suspected rash.
He noted that all protocols were implemented and the suspected case was sent to Nicosia General Hospital, where it was treated. On Friday a sample was sent for tests and it was diagnosed as a chickenpox case, he added.
Meanwhile, asked about the health situation of the Minister of Labour, Zeta Emilianidou, who continues to be treated in a hospital in Athens, after suffering a cerebral aneurysm, the Health Minister said on Sunday that her condition remains critical.
Source: Cyprus News Agency