New diagnoses bring island-wide tally to 25
THE HEALTH Ministry yesterday announced that lab results have confirmed five more Cypriots as having the H1N1 flu virus, bringing the total number of cases to 25.
The Ministry and municipalities of Protaras and Ayia Napa, where most cases have been identified, have urged the public not to panic as all the cases are of a mild form.
The location of the latest five cases has not been disclosed by the Health Ministry, while there are conflicting reports of their origin.
Some claim they are from Paphos and others from the Famagusta area. The Minister of Health Antonis Paschalides yesterday declined to specify where the five patients live.
“We will not discuss that issue. Official announcements come out. This is the formula we followed from the first day; the Ministry has a responsible stance,” Pashalides said yesterday.
The latest lab results were announced on Sunday. Two days earlier, the Ministry had announced six more confirmed cases: five were Cypriots and one a British tourist. On Friday, the Ministry had announced five more cases, all of whom were Cypriots from the Famagusta district.
Meanwhile, a representative of the Cyprus Medical Association reiterated that all cases in Cyprus are of a mild form and people, particularly of younger ages, should avoid crowded indoor areas and take necessary precautions.
“It is a simple cold which can be treated without any particular problems. What we would like to emphasise is that anyone with flu symptoms or with this particular virus should take precautionary measures so that we stop human to human transmission in our community,” said Dr Yiannis Demetriades, representative of the Medical Association on the H1N1 management committee.
“The instructions we give are basic – in case of flu do not shake hands, put your hand in front of your mouth when coughing or sneezing. Contact your doctor or the emergency unit at hospital and describe your symptoms.
“Young people should be particularly careful, as they are the main target of the specific virus. We advise them to avoid confined spaces. There is no danger in going to the beach at Protaras or sitting at an open-air restaurant. What helps transmission is closed spaces,” Demetriades added.
The Mayors of Protaras and Ayia Napa, where most of the incidents have been recorded, also urged the public not to panic, warning that the tourism sector in its whole is being undermined by exaggerated reports.
“I agree with the position of the Health Ministry, which does not want to give publicity and give the opportunity to certain people to damage our tourism and the profits of our citizens; they should not think that only the Famagusta area is being damaged, as it is the entire island of Cyprus that loses out as a result of this approach,” said Ayia Napa Mayor Antonis Tsokkos.
“The creation of unnecessary and unjustified panic damages our tourism and gives the opportunity to competing destinations to take advantage of the situation,” added Paralimni Mayor Andreas Evangelou.
Until now, 59 people have undergone lab tests, 25 of whom have tested positive for the new flu. Meanwhile the University of Queensland in Australia announced that they have developed a new flu shot which will become available by the end of 2009.
