Influenza has overtaken respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as the predominant infection affecting children in Cyprus, while RSV continues to show elevated activity, medical officials said on Wednesday.
The surge in seasonal infections has led to increased patient visits at paediatric clinics and the Children’s Accident and Emergency Department at Nicosia General Hospital, as well as at weekend emergency clinics under the national health system (GHS).
The Cyprus Paediatric Society is calling for employers to accommodate parents of sick children, particularly through work-from-home arrangements where possible.
“When parents have nowhere to leave their sick children, they send them to school”, Michalis Anastasiades, president of the Cyprus Paediatric Society told philenews, noting that this contributes to virus transmission among children.
The Children’s A&E Department at Nicosia General Hospital receives 35-40 patients on weekdays, with numbers doubling to 70-80 during weekends and holidays, according to Charalambos Charilou, spokesperson for the State Health Services Organisation.
Doctors are warning parents not to rely solely on negative rapid tests, emphasising that the presence of symptoms indicates viral infection regardless of test results. They also stress that antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections.
Healthcare officials expect infection rates to peak in late January and early February, following historical patterns that typically show a second wave of cases during this period.
Read more:
