Cyprus confirms four West Nile virus cases, all linked to travel

Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus has recorded four confirmed cases of West Nile virus, all of which were imported, Deputy Director-General of the Health Ministry Elisavet Constantinou said on Tuesday. Two additional probable cases remain under investigation, while authorities described the situation as controlled.

Cases under investigation

All four confirmed cases were recorded during the summer, Constantinou said. The two probable cases require further laboratory testing to determine whether they meet the epidemiological criteria for confirmation as West Nile virus infections.

Constantinou said the disease is largely asymptomatic, with 80 per cent or more of cases showing no symptoms.

She said the limited number of confirmed cases indicated that the situation remained controlled, noting that a larger outbreak would have resulted in substantially more hospitalisations.

Prevention measures

Constantinou urged people to protect themselves from mosquito bites, particularly in areas near standing water, by wearing long sleeves and trousers and using insect repellent.

She also advised residents to reduce mosquito breeding sites at home by avoiding stagnant water in buckets, plant pots and old tyres. Air conditioning, fans and spraying can also help keep mosquitoes away, she said.

Risk and public health response

The elderly and other vulnerable groups face a greater risk than the general healthy population and require additional protective measures, Constantinou said.

She said West Nile virus is not transmitted between people and can only be spread through infected mosquitoes. The low number of cases in Cyprus means the likelihood of infected mosquitoes is also low, she added.

The disease is detected through blood testing. The Health Ministry has been working on the issue for some time, with health worker teams spraying areas with mosquito breeding sites and implementing specific precautions.