Cyprus scrambles after monkeypox patient’s mom speaks out

Health ministry officials in the Republic of Cyprus are trying to get their hands on a monkeypox vaccine, after a woman whose infected son was hospitalized told state television there were no drugs for treatment.

According to the Cyprus News Agency, government officials were expecting 1400 doses of the monkeypox vaccine by the end of August.

But that was no consolation for the mother of a 40-year-old male, who was suffering after testing positive in a molecular test carried out at Nicosia General Hospital.

“He wants vaccines to be delivered fast so that people around him could get the jab,” the mother told state news network RIK, adding he was having symptoms treated with heavy antibiotics and remaining concerned about his close contacts.

State Medical Services head Elisavet Constantinou said all contacts linked to the patient have been traced and given instructions to self-monitor for 21 days for any symptoms.

Constantinou told CNA that health ministry officials were “exerting great effort to expedite the arrival of a small amount of the vaccine doses.”

Health ministry spokesperson Konstantinos Athanasiou described the patient’s condition as “good” and added that he was being monitored by state doctors.

Athanasiou also confirmed that ministry officials were scrambling to locate monkeypox vaccines in other countries that could be available for immediate shipment.

Monkeypox is caused by monkeypox virus which is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with material contaminated with the virus.

The virus can also spread through skin-to-skin contact, hugging, kissing, massage activity, or more intimate contact including various forms of sexual acts.

According to the World Health Organization, symptoms of monkeypox in most cases go away on their own within a few weeks. However, in some people, an infection can lead to medical complications and even death.