No other horse infected with the West Nile virus has been identified so far in the Paralimni area, apart from the five cases already recorded at one farm, according to Veterinary Services Officer Dimitris Epameinondas, who told CNA on Friday that surveillance for the virus is continuing.
Mr. Epameinondas pointed out that the five animals that tested positive for the virus were identified at the same facility, which houses a total of 16 horses, and that the Veterinary Services are continuing surveillance as part of the relevant program.
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“So far, no other animal has tested positive at any other facility in the area,” he added.
As he explained, the monitoring of horses aims to determine whether the virus is circulating, as horses can exhibit symptoms and therefore serve as an important indicator of the disease’s presence.
“What we want to do is conduct surveillance to see if the virus is circulating among horses,” he noted.
He pointed out that while the presence of the virus in horses means that “the virus is present and is being transmitted,” the main transmission cycle involves mosquitoes and birds.
Restrictions on the movement of horses were not deemed necessary
Regarding whether restrictive measures for horses in the area are being considered, Mr. Epaminondas stated that “there is no reason to do so,” as horses are only occasional hosts of the virus.
As he explained, neither horses nor humans can transmit the virus to mosquitoes, which, along with birds, are part of the main transmission cycle.
Public health measures, he added, are being taken in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s guidelines.
Mr. Epameinondas also noted that the infected horses that received medication “are doing better and have no problems.”
Surveillance Since 2005
According to the Veterinary Services Officer, surveillance for the West Nile virus in horses has been ongoing since 2005, with approximately 100 samples collected each year.
The incident in Paralimni marks the first detection of the virus in the area; as he noted, a single case had previously been identified in a horse and another in a wild bird.
Mr. Epaminondas explained that broader surveillance of birds is also being conducted, as the virus’s primary transmission cycle is linked to birds and mosquitoes.
“The West Nile virus originates primarily from birds,” he said, noting that if the virus enters the country via a migratory bird, it is likely to be detected in birds and then spread within the country.
The Veterinary Services Official emphasized that the significance of detecting the virus in horses does not lie in the fact that they themselves can transmit the virus, but in the fact that its presence indicates the circulation of a zoonotic disease that can also infect humans.
“What interests us is that detecting the virus in horses confirms the presence of a specific disease that can also be transmitted to humans,” he said.
According to him, reducing the risk of transmission is linked to mosquito control and personal protection measures for the population—issues for which public health agencies are responsible.
The Veterinary Services, he added, proceed—upon detection of the disease—to record cases, conduct an epidemiological investigation at the facility, and notify the Ministry of Health regarding the further measures required.
Source: CNA
