Even Cyprus prepped for pandemic

NICOSIA, Cyprus – On a small island like Cyprus, it’s comforting to see the government hastening to reassure the population that there is no need to panic about swine flu and show precautions they have already taken to deal with a possible outbreak, even though officials have yet to diagnose single case here.  

Cyprus depends on tourism and agriculture for its economic survival; a pandemic of swine flu would be disastrous for both sectors.

After the weekend news that swine flu had killed dozens of people in Mexico, and that cases had since been reported in the United States and Europe, the Cyprus Health Ministry convened an emergency meeting of microbiologists, epidemiologists and officials from pharmaceutical services to coordinate action and determine the readiness of emergency health services throughout the island.

“The fact that cases have been reported in Europe is worrying,” said Health Minister Christos Patsalides. “This obliges everyone in Europe to increase their measures to deal with swine flu.”

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