Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NICOSIA98
2008-02-11 11:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:
CYPRUS: FIGHTING TUBERCULOSIS IN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHNC #0098 0421100 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 111100Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8553 INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0232 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS NICOSIA 000098
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO WHO CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: FIGHTING TUBERCULOSIS IN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA
REF: STATE 6989
(U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please treat
accordingly.
UNCLAS NICOSIA 000098
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO WHO CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: FIGHTING TUBERCULOSIS IN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA
REF: STATE 6989
(U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please treat
accordingly.
1. (SBU) In response to Reftel request regarding the status of
Cyprus's implementation of the Berlin Declaration on Tuberculosis
(TB): Dr. Andreas Polynikis, Chief Health Officer, Ministry of
Health, who attended the WHO meeting in Berlin on October 22, 2007,
informed us that his office was in the process of drafting an action
plan to fight TB and that the GOC remains committed to supporting
the Berlin Declaration.
2. (SBU) Due to its location on the southeastern fringes of Europe,
Cyprus serves as a transit place for many workers and immigrants
coming from the Middle East or North Africa. As a result, Polynikis
explained, Cyprus has no choice but to remain vigilant about TB,
even though the frequency of the disease in Cyprus is quite low. He
added the GOC was trying to encourage temporary workers and other
high-risk groups to submit to voluntary TB testing, since they are
not obliged to take the test for entry into the EU. Another
practical problem, he noted, was convincing subjects found to be
TB-positive to follow the full treatment. The treatment takes three
months to complete, leading many patients to abandon it half-way,
and resulting in stronger and more resistant viruses.
3. (SBU) Currently, the Ministry of Health is in the process of
relocating to a new building. Once the move is complete, Dr.
Polynikis will be in a position to provide us with additional
information, which we will forward promptly.
SCHLICHER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO WHO CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: FIGHTING TUBERCULOSIS IN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA
REF: STATE 6989
(U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please treat
accordingly.
1. (SBU) In response to Reftel request regarding the status of
Cyprus's implementation of the Berlin Declaration on Tuberculosis
(TB): Dr. Andreas Polynikis, Chief Health Officer, Ministry of
Health, who attended the WHO meeting in Berlin on October 22, 2007,
informed us that his office was in the process of drafting an action
plan to fight TB and that the GOC remains committed to supporting
the Berlin Declaration.
2. (SBU) Due to its location on the southeastern fringes of Europe,
Cyprus serves as a transit place for many workers and immigrants
coming from the Middle East or North Africa. As a result, Polynikis
explained, Cyprus has no choice but to remain vigilant about TB,
even though the frequency of the disease in Cyprus is quite low. He
added the GOC was trying to encourage temporary workers and other
high-risk groups to submit to voluntary TB testing, since they are
not obliged to take the test for entry into the EU. Another
practical problem, he noted, was convincing subjects found to be
TB-positive to follow the full treatment. The treatment takes three
months to complete, leading many patients to abandon it half-way,
and resulting in stronger and more resistant viruses.
3. (SBU) Currently, the Ministry of Health is in the process of
relocating to a new building. Once the move is complete, Dr.
Polynikis will be in a position to provide us with additional
information, which we will forward promptly.
SCHLICHER