Nicosia: In Cyprus, there are protocols that were put into effect in the past and will be followed in the event of a suspected case, epidemiologist Petros Karagiannis told CNA regarding the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Central Africa. Asked what the response would be if there were an imported case in Cyprus, he said that there are protocols that were put into effect in the past and will be followed.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Karagiannis also mentioned that the Ministry of Health may have updated these protocols and emphasized the importance of complete isolation of the suspected case. Implementing biosecurity measures is crucial to protect both healthcare workers and the general population to prevent further spread. Transmission, as Karagiannis explained, occurs through very close contact with fluids from the patient, such as saliva, tears, urine, feces, and blood. In the final stages of the disease, microhemorrhages occur, which is why these viruses are considered responsible for hemorrhagic episodes, meaning they cause hemorrhagic fevers.
Karagiannis highlighted that for the rest of the world, except for Central Africa, where outbreaks occur from time to time, any Ebola case will be an imported one. He stressed the need for caution, especially for people coming from affected countries, who should undergo thorough questioning to determine their exposure risk. He noted that the current outbreak appears to be more serious than previous ones, with a specific strain associated with a more aggressive disease. Currently, there is no vaccine available for this strain, which underscores the need for managing incidents based on the symptoms presented by patients.
At this stage, prevention and informing the general population in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where cases are present, are of particular importance. Citizens should be aware of what to avoid to prevent the spread of the virus.