Newsroom
A newborn diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease remains in critical condition at Makarios Hospital, where the infant is receiving mechanical ventilation and all appropriate medical treatment, the State Health Services Organisation (OKYPY) said on Saturday.
OKYPY spokesman Charalambos Charilaou confirmed that the baby is being treated in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The infant’s condition has been assessed as critical by the medical team.
The case prompted the Ministry of Health to order the temporary suspension of operations at the healthcare facility where the baby was born. The closure, announced on Friday, will remain in force until additional inspections are completed and the findings have been evaluated.
According to the Ministry, inspections and water sampling have already been carried out at the facility. Preliminary laboratory results detected Legionella pneumophila at certain points in its water supply network.
The bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially serious form of pneumonia. The presence of the organism in the facility’s water system is being investigated as part of the health authorities’ response to the case.
Newborns at the facility were transferred to other healthcare institutions following the suspension of operations.
OKYPY said it had no information indicating that any other cases had been identified.
