Ten flu-related deaths have been recorded this season in Cyprus, primarily among vulnerable elderly individuals with underlying health conditions, while one infant died of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), health ministry head of medical services Elizabeth Constantinou said on Wednesday.
Constantinou said on Wednesday that nine patients had been hospitalised with flu symptoms, while the infant was admitted to Makarios III Hospital with RSV. The World Health Organisation will determine the final cause of death through specialised procedures using software systems.
She noted that the increase in flu and other illnesses in Cyprus follows the lifting of Covid-19 measures. This trend, she emphasised, is not unique to Cyprus but is reflected across European countries, accompanied by a rise in related fatalities.
Regarding vaccination efforts, Constantinou said that 75 per cent of elderly and vulnerable groups had been vaccinated against the flu, with the percentage continuing to grow.
On hospital admissions, she said that since the beginning of the year, 95 people with flu symptoms had been admitted to state hospitals and 67 to private facilities.
Of the ten flu-related deaths, eight occurred in state hospitals and two in private ones. Two of the deaths were recorded in December 2024, while the remaining eight occurred this year.
Meanwhile, the health ministry is doing its utmost to ensure effective bed management.
Health Minister Michael Damianos said standby GPs would be increased to see patients that did not need to be admitted to hospitals, to reduce congestion at emergency departments.
Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Damianos said bringing back masks was not on the table at this time and was deemed unnecessary.
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