Monkeypox protocols being discussed today

The Minister of Health, Michalis Hadjipantela, called for a meeting on Monday to take stock of the latest data, as well as Cyprus' level of preparedness in dealing with monkeypox.

The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global public health emergency on Saturday afternoon. A telephone conversation between Hadjipantela and the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge followed.

According to a Ministry announcement on Sunday, during the phone call, the two men discussed the data recorded at the European level in relation to the disease and it was decided that, within the next few days, further guidelines will be sent regarding the handling and treatment of confirmed cases of monkeypox.

Even though Cyprus is among the countries where no confirmed cases have been recorded so far, the competent services of the Ministry of Health are fully prepared to deal with the disease, the announcement states since the Ministry of Health has taken all the necessary actions and has drawn up an action plan, which includes all relevant protocols for managing both confirmed cases and their close contacts.

Moreover, Minister of Health, Michalis Hadjipantela, announced that 10 beds have been allocated for Monkeypox patients at the Nicosia General Hospital, which has been designated as the main reference hospital for this virus.

More than 16,000 cases of the disease have been recorded in more than 70 countries, while the cases are mainly found in people with multiple sexual partners.