West Nile virus transmission remains limited in Cyprus

Microbiology professor Dr. Petros Karagiannis has stated that there is currently no widespread transmission of the West Nile virus in Cyprus. While the situation is not cause for alarm, he advised citizens to take simple preventative measures to reduce risk.

Dr. Karagiannis noted that individuals over the age of 60 or those with underlying health conditions are at higher risk of developing severe symptoms, such as encephalitis or meningitis, as the virus affects the central nervous system. Recommended precautions include wearing long-sleeved clothing and using insect repellent, particularly when outdoors in rural areas or near stagnant water during early morning and late evening hours.

To eliminate mosquito breeding sites, residents are urged to avoid leaving standing water in containers around their homes. The professor also advised against approaching dead birds, as the virus is transmitted from wild birds, such as corvids, to mosquitoes. He highlighted that climate change and recent rainfall, which has created water accumulation in riverbeds and drainage ditches, contribute to the environmental conditions that support mosquito populations.