There is no cause for alarm following the detection of a West Nile virus case in Cyprus, which has left an elderly patient hospitalised at Nicosia General Hospital.
Speaking to Politis, Dr Leontios G. Kostrikis, distinguished professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus and head of the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Virology, said he does not expect an outbreak on the island. Any infections, he said, are more likely to remain sporadic.
The role of migratory birds
West Nile virus does not spread through ordinary person-to-person contact. Humans are infected mainly through the bites of infected mosquitoes, while birds form part of the virus’s transmission cycle.
Kostrikis referred to the large number of cases recorded in Israel over many years in connection with migratory birds. He clarified, however, that these are migratory land birds, “very few of which reach Cyprus”, and are therefore not considered an immediate threat.
With the hunting season beginning, Kostrikis also urged hunters to exercise caution.
According to official guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus is not generally transmitted directly from birds to humans. Instead, it is maintained through a bird-mosquito-bird cycle.
Rare cases of direct transmission from birds to humans have been documented in scientific literature. The CDC therefore recommends avoiding handling bird meat with bare hands.
Most infections are asymptomatic
Kostrikis said most infections are asymptomatic, while severe illness, such as that experienced by the 70-year-old patient, is generally linked to immunological factors, including immunosuppression and a complicated medical history.
“There has never been evidence that the disease develops differently because of viral factors,” he said.
Asked about Greece, where cases have increased over the past year, Kostrikis cautioned against comparing the situation in the two countries.
Spraying planned in affected areas
The Health Services have already been notified and are expected to carry out the prescribed spraying in the areas where the patient is believed to have travelled and contracted the virus.
