Seven deaths of hospital patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza have been recorded since the beginning of the current flu season.
Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Elisavet Constantinou, said an emergency meeting was held at the Ministry on Friday, aiming to better coordinate actions to address the outbreak of seasonal infections.
Constantinou said that, based on data from the Epidemiological Monitoring Unit, the seven deaths concern elderly people who were being treated in hospitals between December to date, with most of them presenting comorbidities.
A total of 98 patients with influenza required inpatient care, 85 in hospitals run by the State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) and 13 in private hospitals.
According to Constantinou, 39 of these cases were confirmed by molecular laboratory diagnosis, while the remaining 59 by rapid antigen detection test.
Coordination between competent services
Regarding the increased pressure that hospitals have been under in recent days and the lack of available beds, Dr Constantinou said that she chaired a meeting at the Health Ministry on Friday with the participation of all competent services and bodies, aimed at better coordination to address the outbreak of seasonal infections. Representatives of the SHSO, the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) that runs the General Healthcare System in Cyprus, and private hospitals participated in the meeting.
She noted they discussed issues related to the management of patients requiring inpatient care, through the cooperation of the public and private sectors.
Responding to a question, Dr Constantinou said that the healthcare mechanism is “adequately prepared” and that the Health Ministry has made the necessary preparations, with vaccination as a key pillar.
At the same time, Dr Constantinou called on members of the public, especially vulnerable groups, to observe basic personal protection measures. She stressed, however, that “flu vaccination, especially for high-risk groups, remains the most effective preventive measure against serious illness.”
( Source: CNA)
