A case of West Nile virus has been identified in Cyprus, with an elderly person currently receiving treatment at Nicosia General Hospital.
The case has been confirmed by the Ministry of Health, although no further details have been released regarding the patient's condition.
Of particular concern is that, according to information available so far, the patient does not appear to have travelled abroad recently. Authorities are therefore examining the possibility that the infection was acquired locally through the bite of an infected mosquito.
West Nile virus is transmitted to humans primarily through mosquitoes that have previously been infected by birds, which serve as the virus's main reservoir.
In most cases, infection causes no symptoms. However, a small proportion of patients may develop severe illness, particularly older adults and people with underlying health conditions.
The case is expected to trigger epidemiological investigations and mosquito surveillance efforts as health authorities seek to determine whether local transmission has occurred.
