Rogers Issues Ebola Warning, Cites Infectious Diseases Law

In a statement on social media, Rogers referred to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, noting that a new subtype of the virus is spreading rapidly in the region. She said there are currently around 1,000 suspected cases and more than 200 deaths, adding that the outbreak has not yet been brought under control.

Rogers highlighted that hundreds of students from these regions are studying at universities in Cyprus, stressing that the issue should be treated as a serious public health concern without causing panic.

Referring to Law No. 45/2018 on Infectious Diseases, she pointed to the responsibilities of the Ministry of Health and the Council of Ministers under the legislation. She said that regions affected by the outbreak should be declared “infected areas,” and that notification, monitoring and, if necessary, quarantine measures could be applied to individuals arriving from these regions.

Emphasising the importance of early action in combating infectious diseases, Rogers said that precautions should be taken while the risk is still external, before any crisis reaches the country.

She also called on the government to take concrete steps on the implementation of the law, adding that the public is awaiting clarity on whether action will be taken to protect public health.