August 2, 2014 - Cyprus Mail
Action plan in place to deal with Ebola virus threat
By Stefanos Evripidou
THE Health Ministry on Friday said Cyprus is taking the necessary precautions to handle any possible imported cases of the deadly Ebola virus.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, the health ministry’s deputy permanent secretary Christina Yiannaki said World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines were being followed on the matter. The ministry has given instructions to the foreign ministry, as well as travellers, and has prepared guidelines for health professionals on how to identify suspected cases and how to contain them.
She noted that the risk is greater in areas where patients are hospitalised.
Based on the WHO’s recent risk assessment, Yiannaki said the risk for European countries is small, however “we must be ready for possible scenarios of imported cases”.
If there is a need to carry out diagnostic tests, samples will be sent to Hamburg, she said.
“The general plan for the prevention of Ebola has been prepared. Already a general management plan is ready for infectious diseases and there is collaboration with services at ports and airports according to international health regulations,” said Yiannaki.
The ministry official added that if a suspected case arrives on the island it should be immediately identified by the system in place.
“A relevant action plan has already been prepared and is implemented for the coronavirus (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). This plan with minor modifications can be applied to the Ebola virus.
“In practice, prevention measures were already implemented at Makarios Hospital recently when a child with malaria was suspected of carrying the Ebola virus,” she added.
Ebola virus disease (EVD) or Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) is the human disease caused by the Ebola virus. Symptoms typically start two days to three weeks after contracting the virus, notably fever, throat and muscle pains, and headaches. In the later stages, symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, along with decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys.