Four confirmed cases of West Nile virus have been recorded in Cyprus to date, the Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health, Elisabeth Konstantinou, told KYPE on Tuesday, describing the situation as under control.
Meanwhile, two other cases are classified as probable and are under investigation since, based on epidemiological criteria, further laboratory testing is required to determine whether they meet the definition of a West Nile virus infection case.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Speaking to CNA on Tuesday, Ms. Konstantinou noted that the four confirmed cases were recorded during the summer. She added that the disease is primarily asymptomatic, noting that in a large percentage of cases—around 80% or more—no symptoms manifest.
At the same time, Ms. Konstantinou described the situation as under control, noting that if there were a large number of cases, there would be more instances requiring hospitalization.
SEE ALSO: Dr. Karagiannis’s recommendations regarding the West Nile virus: What measures should citizens take?
“I believe the situation is under control, because if we had a large number of cases, we would also have many cases requiring hospitalization. It wouldn’t be just four—it would be many more,” she said.
Regarding preventive measures, Ms. Konstantinou said that these are first and foremost individual responsibilities, urging citizens to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
“Every citizen must take care to protect themselves from mosquito bites. This means that if we go to areas where there is standing water, etc., it’s best to wear long sleeves and long pants,” she said.
He also recommended using insect repellents and taking measures at home to limit mosquito breeding sites.
“Don’t let water stand in buckets or flowerpots in our homes, or in old car tires. Make sure there are no mosquito breeding grounds. Air conditioners and fans help keep mosquitoes away. Let’s spray,” he added.
READ ALSO: This is how a 74-year-old man suffering from West Nile virus encephalitis ended up intubated in the ICU
Ms. Konstantinou pointed out that vulnerable groups are at greater risk than the general population.
“That is why we must take additional measures to protect the elderly and vulnerable,” she added.
Referring to the transmission of the disease, Ms. Konstantinou clarified that the virus is not transmitted from person to person, but through an infected mosquito.
She added that, given the low number of cases in Cyprus, the likelihood of infected mosquitoes is low.
When asked about diagnostic methods, Ms. Konstantinou said that the disease is detected through a blood test.
Furthermore, when asked whether the cases are primarily linked to travel, Ms. Konstantinou answered in the affirmative, noting that “the cases are imported.”
At the same time, she mentioned that broader measures are being taken by the government, noting that the Ministry of Health has been addressing the issue for quite some time.
“We have teams of public health workers who are spraying areas where there are mosquito breeding grounds and taking special precautions,” he said.
In addition, he noted, the Ministry of Health has once again sent out a notice to all doctors, reminding them of the symptoms and laboratory tests so that they remain vigilant, consider the disease in their differential diagnosis, and send samples for laboratory testing.
In addition, he noted that blood collection teams have been informed and are conducting specific tests on the blood samples they collect.
“You can see that the Ministry of Health is on high alert, has taken action, and is implementing all appropriate measures regarding this specific disease,” he said, adding that “there is no cause for concern. We are monitoring the situation closely and remain vigilant.”
