Filenews 30 March 2023
Six cases of endemic typhus were recorded in Cyprus in the last six months, which were hospitalized in public and private hospitals, with two of them in the Intensive Care Unit. However, the Ministry of Health is reassuring, clarifying that since 2011, when cases began to be recorded, no deaths have been recorded.
The information speaks of five cases in the fourth quarter of 2022 and one in the first quarter of 2023, which was hospitalized for a week in a private hospital in Nicosia and was discharged last Monday.
Fully curable
The competent Ministry reassures the citizens, since as the endemic typhus assures "it 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 route, no deaths have been recorded in Cyprus.
Moreover, as reported to the Agency, in the Republic of Cyprus isolated cases are reported sporadically 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 typhus deaths in Cyprus since 2011
In his statements, the spokesman of the Ministry of Health, Dimitris Konstantinou, assured that since 2011, when endemic typhus began to be recorded through the official route, there has been no death.
According to Mr. Constantinou, isolated cases are reported sporadically 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 "typhus is curable" and that "with the administration of antibiotics it is completely cured".
Cyprus does not exceed 30 incidents since 2011
The Cyprus News Agency secured the official data of confirmed cases of typhus since 2011, according to which it is established that their number annually does not exceed 30.
Specifically, the largest number of cases in the Republic of Cyprus was recorded in 2012 with 30 cases, while the smallest is recorded in 2020 and 2022 with 5 cases.
According to the information of the CNA, the only case so far, recorded in 2023, was hospitalized last week in a private hospital in Nicosia.
Official data also indicate that in 2011 21 incidents were recorded, in 2013 10 incidents were recorded, in 2014 there were 9 incidents, while 6 incidents were recorded in 2015.
In addition, in 2016 20 incidents have been recorded, in 2017 another 8 incidents, in 2018 there were 14 incidents, while 17 incidents were recorded in 2019 and 10 incidents in 2021.
How endemic typhus is transmitted
It is transmitted through bites or infectious fluids (such as faeces) inoculated through the skin by ectoparasites such as ticks, fleas, phthora, and mites found in various animals (rats, sheep, goats 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 manifest within 1-2 weeks.
Treatment and individual protection measures
Endemic typhus is treated with the administration of 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, observance of personal hygiene measures, food safety and good washing / baking before consumption and avoidance of tick bites and contact with ticks and the correct and timely removal of adhering ticks.
Also, caution is advised when staying in the open air and use of appropriate clothing, use of insect repellent, careful and frequent checking of the body and clothes for ticks during the stay in the open air and after returning home, and protection of pets and domestic animals from ticks.
