THIRTY-TWO new cases of the H1N1 virus were announced yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the government-controlled areas to 167. Of the new cases, 16 were Cypriots, while the remaining half were foreigners.
Answering questions from the media, Head of the H1N1 Management Committee, Chrystalla Hadjianastasiou sought to clarify any misconceptions about the virus, beginning by outlining the mild form and duration which the cases in Cyprus have so far displayed.
“What we can say, is that from the point when a person starts displaying symptoms, it takes at the very latest seven days for them to be considered recovered. There have not been any cases in which there have been even the slightest of complications.”
In response to a question over the measures which her department had undertaken to combat the spread of the virus, Hadjianastasiou put the daily increase in the number of cases down to the biological makeup of a flu virus, which by its very nature is meant to spread, and “especially the fact that we are in the middle of the tourist season.”
She also noted that while the virus had been observed to be infecting increasing numbers of people, transmission had not reached the point where it could be classified as being steadily spread throughout communities.
“The virus is still being contracted sporadically… Only when the source of infection of specific cases cannot be determined, can the virus to be considered as steadily spreading internally through the community. Thankfully, up to now, we haven’t reached this point.”
Hadjianastasiou also said that the government and Health Ministry had received a further 20,000 antibiotic treatments on Tuesday, and that a further two shipments had already been ordered.
By 8pm yesterday, the figures provided by the Ministry stated that in total, the state lab had completed the examination of 359 samples, finding 176 to be positively infected.
The statement yet again assured the public that the development of events was “fully under control” and that there was absolutely no cause for concern. “Even though the flu has been declared a pandemic and the increase in infections can be expected, it is stressed that the symptoms being displayed continue to be minor”
