seasonal infections — Hospitals in Cyprus are managing a rise in seasonal infections effectively, according to Health Minister Neophytos Charalambidis. During a visit to Nicosia General Hospital on Wednesday, he assured the public that no additional measures are currently necessary to cope with the situation.
Charalambidis stated, “The situation, as SHSO informs us, is manageable and no additional measures are required at present.” He emphasised that there is no immediate need to secure extra beds from private hospitals, indicating confidence in the current healthcare capacity.
Addressing the usual winter challenges, the minister noted that increased pressure on accident and emergency departments is typical during this season. He revealed that pre-Christmas meetings had been convened with relevant bodies to assess infection levels, and the current epidemiological picture appears similar to last year, possibly slightly lower.
The Health Ministry is receiving updates almost daily regarding bed occupancy, which Charalambidis described as being managed “in the best possible way” by the SHSO. He highlighted that the ongoing spread of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is under close watch, and guidance is regularly provided to all involved parties.
Dr Elisavet Konstantinou, the ministry’s Deputy Director General, reported that cases of flu, RSV, and COVID-19 are all trending downward. She noted that while the flu death toll stands at 32, the post-holiday spike aligns with expected annual patterns. The public has responded positively to vaccination efforts, with free immunisation available for newborns through GHS paediatricians and preventive vaccines offered to elderly adults via their personal doctors.
Looking ahead, Konstantinou mentioned that a second wave of infections is typically anticipated around early March. However, she reassured that there is still time for unvaccinated vulnerable groups and older individuals to receive their vaccinations. Historically, this second wave is milder than the first and is usually dominated by the Influenza B strain, with no significant deviations from expected patterns.
As hospitalisations decline, with fewer patients in both intensive care units and general wards compared to the previous week, there is cautious optimism. This reduction in cases has been attributed to the fall in infection rates.
