THE EMERGENCY units in the island’s hospitals have been inundated with sick people over the last few days, as a gastroenteritis outbreak has spread across the island.
The situation remains most acute at the emergency ward of the Limassol General Hospital, where the queues and delays were so long that first aid medics were treating people in the waiting room.
First Aid Director at Limassol General Hospital Antonis Kastano characterised the situation as “out of control”, noting that around 100 people per day were visiting the hospital’s emergency unit exhibiting symptoms of gastroenteritis.
“There are many people there – waiting, shouting and yelling abuse at us – but what can we do?” Kastano said. “Our effort has reached its limits; we have been forced to deal with them on their chairs.”
Symptoms mainly involve vomiting, stomach cramps, a temperature of up to 38°C, and in some cases diarrhoea. The symptoms aren’t normally severe and last for a short amount of time, but in some cases, a short stay in the hospital’s pathology or paediatric ward is necessary. If treated properly, the infection can pass after 24 hours.
Director of the Nicosia General Hospital Kostas Antoniades told state radio yesterday that there had been a mass influx into the hospital over the last two days.
“Over the last 48 hours around 900 people have come to the department and been examined. About 300 of them suffered from gastroenteritis symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea and fever,” he said, adding that a number of them were given intravenous fluids and injections before being released.
Antoniades advised those currently dealing with occasional vomiting or diarrhoea episodes to stay at home, drink plenty of liquids, and limit themselves to a light diet consisting of rice and soup.
“Those who suffer from continuous vomiting and diarrhoea should go to see a doctor or to the hospital.”
Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the virus. In August a ten-month-old girl suffering from gastroenteritis died after being taken to Nicosia’s Makarios Hospital. An autopsy by coroner Eleni Antoniou showed that dehydration had brought on cardiac and respiratory failure.
A few days later, a 14-month-old boy suffering from gastroenteritis died in Paphos due to dehydration.
Enterologist George Potamitis explained that high temperatures and the numerous holiday gatherings amongst family and friends can explain the recent outbreak of the highly transmissible virus.
“But now with the cold I will venture a projection: there will be a reduction in gastroenteritis cases,” Potamitis said. “I believe that the gastroenteritis virus has completed its cycle, unless we’re dealing with a different strain.
“Then we will be talking about an epidemic of gastroenteritis, while now we are only talking about an outbreak.”
