Man in intensive care with encephalitis after Cyprus West Nile virus case

Local healthTop News Man in intensive care with encephalitis after Cyprus West Nile virus case Tiger Mosquito Relevant News Man in intensive care with encephalitis after Cyprus West Nile virus case 20 August 2026 Christina Drakos brings the body into focus at Limassol solo show 20 August 2026 An evening of traditional Japanese music comes to Nicosia with koto recital 20 August 2026 Marilena Panayi 20 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Authorities are on heightened alert following confirmation of Cyprus’s first case of West Nile virus this year, with Elisavet Konstantinou, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Health, calling for the public to apply protective measures against mosquitoes. The condition of the 74-year-old man, who was admitted to Nicosia General Hospital with relatively serious symptoms on August 14, is considered serious, State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) press spokesperson Charalambos Charilaou told philenews, though “in the last 24 hours he has been showing improvement.” The patient does not appear to have any travel history, Charilaou said, and was admitted last week, with laboratory tests confirming the previous day that the case was West Nile virus. He is being treated in the intensive care unit at Nicosia General Hospital for encephalitis resulting from the infection and is receiving appropriate monitoring, Charilaou said. Konstantinou, speaking to philenews, appealed to the public to be especially careful and to take appropriate measures to protect themselves against mosquitoes. “It is not unprecedented to have a case of West Nile virus in Cyprus,” she said, adding that some cases are recorded almost every year and that this appears to be the first recorded so far this year. Protection against mosquito bites The Ministry of Health is recommending that people wear long-sleeved clothing and long trousers, particularly from the afternoon until the following morning, and use appropriate insect repellents in line with manufacturers’ instructions. The ministry names DEET, picaridin and IR3535 as effective active ingredients. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should follow their doctor’s guidance, while products containing DEET should not be used on infants under two months old, and products containing eucalyptus oil should not be used on children under three. The ministry also recommends fitting screens to doors and windows, using mosquito nets, particularly for infants or when repellent cannot be used, and using fans, preferably ceiling fans, or air conditioning, since moving air makes it harder for mosquitoes to approach, though it does not eliminate them. Reducing mosquito breeding sites The ministry is also advising people to remove standing water from basins, vases, plant saucers, old tyres, gutters and other areas of the garden, and to check for and repair leaking water pipes. Objects and old tyres where water could collect should be removed or covered, while grass, shrubs and dense vegetation, where adult mosquitoes take shelter, should be cut back regularly. Watering is best done in the morning, and ventilation ducts on cesspits should be fitted with screens. Swimming pools and fountains should have their filtration systems run daily to remove mosquito eggs and larvae. Use of insecticides Approved products containing pyrethroids, such as aerosols, tablets, vaporising solutions and coils, can be used, though indoor or outdoor insecticides should not be applied directly to the skin. Manufacturers’ instructions on use, ventilation and safety should be followed strictly. The ministry also recommends using yellow-coloured outdoor lighting, since it attracts mosquitoes to a lesser degree. How the virus spreads and its symptoms West Nile virus is transmitted to humans mainly through the bite of an infected mosquito. A mosquito becomes infected after biting a bird carrying the virus and can then pass it on to a human or another animal. The mosquitoes that mainly carry the virus belong to the Culex genus, the common mosquitoes most active from dusk until morning. This species is present and particularly widespread in Cyprus, ranked among the island’s most abundant mosquito species by scientific research, and breeds in standing water that can collect in flower pots, buckets, gutters, containers, old tyres, wells and uncovered tanks. Not every common mosquito carries the virus, however, since a mosquito must first have fed on a bird carrying the virus to become infectious. The virus is not transmitted through everyday human contact, such as touch, coughing, sneezing or being in the same space as an infected person. About eight in ten people who become infected show no symptoms. Those who develop mild illness may experience fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, nausea, vomiting or rash. In fewer than one per cent of infections, the virus can affect the nervous system and cause encephalitis or meningitis. High fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion, seizures or muscle weakness require immediate medical evaluation. Those most at risk of severe illness are mainly the elderly, the immunosuppressed and people with chronic illnesses. Read more: No cause for panic despite first West Nile virus case of 2026, Cyprus officials say Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Christina Drakos brings the body into focus at Limassol solo show An evening of traditional Japanese music comes to Nicosia with koto recital Cyprus authorities say situation manageable after Turkish military jet’s close approach to passenger plane CCTV leads police to second suspect in Paphos delivery driver attack No cause for panic despite first West Nile virus case of 2026, Cyprus officials say Larnaca Film Festival returns with four days of free screenings across the city Environmentalists demand crackdown after violations at protected Lara turtle beach Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.