Newsroom
West Nile virus cases in Cyprus have doubled within days, putting health authorities on alert and giving households a good reason to inspect everything from flowerpot saucers to forgotten buckets.
Eight infections have now been confirmed, up from four at the beginning of the week. Seven involve people in the Nicosia district, and one was recorded in Larnaca. All eight patients required treatment at Nicosia General Hospital.
Authorities have stepped up mosquito-control work in affected areas, including inspections of gardens, yards, and empty plots where even small amounts of stagnant water can become breeding grounds.
Blood donations are also being monitored because some people can carry the virus without knowing it. Around 80% of those infected develop no symptoms, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
For most people, therefore, an infected mosquito bite will pass unnoticed. About one in five may develop a flu-like illness, with symptoms including:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle or joint pain
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Skin rash
- Pain around the eyes
Symptoms usually appear several days after the bite, and most people recover, although tiredness and weakness can sometimes linger.
Severe illness is uncommon, affecting fewer than 1% of infected people. When it occurs, however, the virus can attack the brain and nervous system, causing meningitis or encephalitis.
A high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, tremors, seizures, or sudden muscle weakness should not be treated as an ordinary summer bug. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention promptly.
Who is most vulnerable?
Older adults face the greatest risk of becoming seriously ill, particularly those over 60. People with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions are also more vulnerable to complications.
That does not mean younger, healthy people cannot become infected. It means they are far less likely to develop the neurological form of the disease.
West Nile virus is mainly passed to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes pick it up after feeding on infected birds. It is not normally spread through everyday contact, so people cannot catch it by sitting beside an infected person, hugging them, or sharing food.
There is currently no vaccine for people and no medicine designed specifically to cure the infection. Treatment focuses on easing symptoms and providing hospital care in more serious cases.
Take a five-minute walk around the house
The most useful precaution begins at home. Mosquitoes do not need a swimming pool, or even a puddle, to breed. A small amount of water left standing for several days can be enough.
Residents should empty, cover, or regularly clean:
- Flowerpot saucers
- Buckets and watering cans
- Pet water bowls
- Bird baths
- Children’s toys left outdoors
- Open bins and containers
- Blocked gutters and drains
- Folded covers or tarpaulins that collect rain or irrigation water
- Old tires
- Unused paddling pools
Water in pet bowls and bird baths should be changed frequently rather than simply topped up. Swimming pools should be properly maintained, while water-storage containers should remain tightly covered.
People can also reduce their exposure by using mosquito repellent as directed, installing or repairing window screens and wearing long sleeves and trousers when mosquitoes are most active, particularly around dusk and dawn.
Cyprus has seen larger outbreaks before, including 24 cases in 2019. But reaching eight cases by early September, after none were recorded in 2025, shows that this year’s mosquito season cannot be brushed aside as merely an itchy nuisance.
