West Nile virus: no cause for concern
The health ministry on Wednesday assured there was no cause for concern after a West Nile virus case was detected in Cyprus a day earlier, stressing the virus is not transmitted from person to person.
In a statement, it said it was taking all necessary measures and those infected are not considered to be able to transmit the virus to other people.
Sporadic cases occur in Cyprus from time to time, mainly during the summer months, the ministry specified and that after a mosquito bite, it usually takes two to 14 days (incubation period) before symptoms appear.
According to the health ministry, most people infected with the virus have no symptoms or mild symptoms.
Very few people (less than 1 per cent) develop a serious disease affecting the nervous system (encephalitis, meningitis or paralysis).
Older people (over 50 years of age), as well as people with immunosuppression and chronic underlying diseases, are more at risk of becoming seriously ill.
West Nile virus is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, transfusions, transplants and rarely from mother to foetus.
In a very small number of cases, this virus can also be spread directly from an infected person through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding and during pregnancy from mother to baby (vertical transmission).
An epidemiological investigation of each reported case is undertaken, and additional measures are taken to control mosquitoes where appropriate.
Measures include strengthening surveillance of suspected cases, epidemiological investigation of each case individually, frequent communication and exchange of information with laboratories performing the relevant diagnostic tests, measures for the safety of blood and blood transfusion, intensification of mosquito control measures by the Health Services and communication with both public health bodies abroad, such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control where cases are reported and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), as well as with the European Commission.
Where individual prevention and protection measures at home are concerned, the ministry recommends the public wears long sleeves and trousers mainly from the afternoon to the morning, and in case the problem is very severe, insect repellent can be used outdoors.
In the meantime, pregnant and breastfeeding women should follow their doctor’s instructions, while insect repellents with DEET are contraindicated in infants under two months of age and should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, while insect repellents with eucalyptus essential oils are contraindicated in children under three years of age.
The health ministry also recommends the installation of mosquito nets (screens) to prevent the passage of mosquitoes through windows and doors, and removing of stagnant water from basins, jars, pots, old tyres, gutters and other parts of the garden, so that mosquitoes do not have access to stagnant water, which is a hatching site for their eggs.
The use of fans or air conditioners is also recommended, as cool air reduces mosquito activity but does not kill them, mowing of grass, shrubs and foliage (places where adult mosquitoes take refuge), watering preferably during the morning hours, use of yellow lamps for outdoor lighting (they attract mosquitoes to a lesser extent), use of insecticides containing pyrethroids (e.g. permethrin) and replacing broken water pipes that leak and removing old tyres that accumulate water.
The ministry recommends covering cesspool ventilation pipes with screens and if there is a swimming pool or fountain in the home then daily activation of the cleaning filters to remove mosquito eggs and larvae is done.