A 74-year-old man who contracted the West Nile virus is in serious condition and is being treated in the hospital. This is the first case of the virus this year; the patient is on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit at Nicosia General Hospital. This is a locally acquired case, as, according to officials, the patient has no travel history.
“He was admitted to Nicosia General Hospital on August 12 with symptoms. On August 14, due to a deterioration in his condition, he was intubated and transferred to the intensive care unit, where he is being treated for encephalitis caused by the West Nile virus.”
Charalambos Charilaou – Press Spokesperson for OKYPY
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Although his condition is considered serious, according to the OKYpY Press Spokesperson, his clinical condition is showing signs of improvement.
READ ALSO: Cyprus Lacks Systematic Surveillance of Mosquitoes That Transmit the West Nile Virus—What Is the Situation Regarding Dengue Fever Carriers?
“We are closely monitoring the patient’s condition for any potential onset of symptoms, etc. This comes as no surprise to us, given that the disease is endemic in Cyprus—that is, we occasionally have one or two cases per year.”
Elisabeth Konstantinou – Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health
Following this development, the Ministry of Health’s action plan was activated, and teams from the Health Services immediately went to areas in the Nicosia district to carry out spraying.
“In areas where the case has been confirmed, including the patient’s home, we will definitely carry out adult insect control, that is, the elimination of adult insects. In addition, we will conduct surveillance by setting up additional traps in the areas where the patient has been, to determine the percentage of mosquitoes present in the area.”
Herodotus Herodotus – Public Health Services
The Ministry of Health urges citizens to take the necessary personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
READ ALSO: This is how a 74-year-old man suffering from West Nile virus-induced encephalitis ended up intubated in the ICU
“Wear long sleeves, use insect repellent; air conditioners and fans help a lot, window screens, and above all, make sure there’s no standing water in our yards—such as saucers under flower pots, etc. These are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.”
Elisabeth Konstantinou
Transmission
This is a virus that is not transmitted from person to person but only by infected mosquitoes.
SEE ALSO: Two cases of Dengue Fever in Cyprus, one involving a healthcare professional
“These cases are primarily asymptomatic, accounting for a large percentage—around 80%. A smaller percentage exhibits symptoms of a generalized infection, such as fever, muscle aches, or a skin rash. And there are also very rare cases—fewer than 1%—that present with neurological symptoms. These include severe headache, confusion, fever, etc.”
Elizabeth Konstantinou
“A very, very small percentage develops complications such as encephalitis, and it appears that this particular case falls into that category.”
Charalambos Charilaou
A virus that is on the rise in several neighboring countries, including Greece.
SEE ALSO: What is the West Nile virus and how is it transmitted?
Watch the report by Nasia Ioannou:
