Six cases of endemic typhus were registered in Cyprus in the last six months, which were treated in public and private hospitals, with two of them in the Intensive Care Unit, KYPE informs. However, the Ministry of Health reassures, clarifying that since 2011, when cases began to be recorded, no death has been recorded.
The information refers to five incidents in the fourth quarter of 2022 and one in the first quarter of 2023, who was hospitalized for a week in a private hospital in Nicosia and was discharged last Monday.
Completely curable
The KYPE contacted the competent Ministry, which reassures the citizens, since as it assures endemic typhus "is fully curable".
However, the most reassuring thing - according to the Ministry of Health - is that since 2011, when incidents began to be recorded through the official channel, no death has been recorded in Cyprus.
Besides, as reported to the Agency, in the Republic of Cyprus sporadic individual cases are reported every year.
It is worth noting that endemic typhus is not transmitted from person to person, while it is treated with the administration of antibiotic drugs, which are available in the Republic of Cyprus.
No deaths from typhus in Cyprus since 2011
In his statements to KYPE, the press representative of the Ministry of Health, Dimitris Konstantinou, assured that since 2011, when cases of endemic typhus began to be recorded through the official channel, there has been no death.
According to Mr. Constantinou, sporadic individual cases are reported in the Republic of Cyprus every year.
Asked if the number of cases is such that it causes concern to the Ministry of Health, Mr. Constantinou said that "typhoid is curable" and that "with the administration of antibiotics it is completely cured".
Cyprus has had no more than 30 incidents since 2011
The Cyprus News Agency has secured the official figures of confirmed typhoid cases since 2011, according to which it is found that their number does not exceed 30 per year.
Specifically, the highest number of cases in the Republic of Cyprus was recorded in 2012 with 30 incidents, while the lowest was recorded in 2020 and 2022 with 5 incidents.
According to the information of KYPE, the only incident so far, recorded in 2023, was hospitalized last week in a private hospital in Nicosia.
Official figures also state that in 2011, 21 incidents were recorded, in 2013, 10 incidents were recorded, in 2014, 9 incidents were recorded, while 6 incidents were recorded in 2015.
In addition, 2016 incidents have been recorded in 20, another 2017 incidents in 8, 2018 incidents in 14, while 17 incidents were recorded in 2019 and 10 incidents in 2021.
How is endemic typhus transmitted?
It is transmitted through a bite or infectious fluids (such as faeces) inoculated through the skin by ectoparasites such as ticks, fleas, fleas and mites found on various animals (rats, goats, sheep and cows).
Inhalation of bacteria or contact of the conjunctiva with infectious material can also lead to infection.
Symptoms
Clinical manifestations vary depending on the causative agent and the patient. Symptoms typically appear within 1-2 weeks.
Treatment and personal protective measures
Endemic typhus is treated with antibiotics. These medicines are available in the Republic of Cyprus.
The Ministry of Health makes recommendations in relation to personal protection measures, such as good hand hygiene, adherence to personal hygiene measures, food safety and good washing/cooking before consumption and avoidance of tick bites and contact with ticks and the correct and timely removal of attached ticks.
It is also recommended to be careful when staying outdoors and wear appropriate clothing, use insect repellent, carefully and frequently check the body and clothing for ticks while staying outdoors and after returning home, and protect pets and domestic animals from ticks.
Source: KYPE