Northern Cyprus health warning issued over West Nile Virus

Following the detection of West Nile Virus cases in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Eastern Mediterranean University (DAÜ) has issued a call for public awareness and prevention. The virus is an RNA virus from the Flaviviridae family, transmitted to humans through the bites of infected Culex mosquitoes.

Experts note that the virus is not a new emergence but is commonly found in Europe and the Mediterranean regions during periods of high mosquito activity. The natural cycle involves birds and mosquitoes; humans are considered ‘end hosts’ and do not contribute to the transmission chain, as they do not carry enough virus in their blood to infect other mosquitoes. The virus cannot be spread through respiratory droplets or casual person-to-person contact.

Approximately 80% of infections are asymptomatic. However, some individuals may experience symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, nausea, or skin rashes for 3 to 10 days. In less than 1% of cases, the infection can affect the central nervous system, leading to serious neurological conditions such as meningitis, encephalitis, or paralysis, particularly in elderly or immunocompromised individuals.