A total of nine individuals have been diagnosed with measles following a cluster that was identified last week at a nursery school, health officials confirmed on Thursday.
Elisabeth Konstantinou, director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, told Phileleftheros that the outbreak has affected eight children and one nursery school teacher.
“The adult has already recovered,” Konstantinou said, adding that of the eight infected infants, “four are currently hospitalised at Makarios Hospital while the other four are being monitored at home.” She confirmed that all patients are in stable condition, with some presenting milder clinical symptoms.
Health authorities have implemented a 21-day quarantine period for all unvaccinated children who may have been exposed, corresponding to the disease’s incubation period. The current cases have emerged from among the children under quarantine measures.
Konstantinou emphasised that measles is highly contagious and warned that case numbers could potentially increase further.
“This is a public health incident. Protocols have been activated,” she said, while noting that overall vaccination coverage rates in Cyprus remain at satisfactory levels.
Dr Avraam Elia, director of the Paediatric Clinic at Makarios Hospital, confirmed that the four hospitalised infants, aged between 13 and 17 months, are not in any danger.
Both health officials emphasised that vaccination remains the most effective form of protection against the disease.
Public health experts note that the highly contagious nature of measles requires vaccination coverage of approximately 95% to maintain herd immunity and prevent community transmission.
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