Cyprus reports first West Nile virus case of 2026

Health authorities in Cyprus have confirmed the first case of the West Nile virus for 2026. A patient, reported by officials as a 70-year-old man in some reports and a 74-year-old man by OKYPY, was admitted to Nicosia General Hospital in mid-August. He is currently being treated in the Intensive Care Unit for encephalitis, a serious neurological complication resulting from the infection. Officials confirmed the diagnosis on August 19, noting that the patient has no recent history of international travel, indicating local transmission.

In response, the Ministry of Health has activated established protocols, including targeted spraying operations in areas where the patient is believed to have been exposed to mosquitoes. Experts clarify that the virus is transmitted exclusively through the bites of infected Culex mosquitoes and cannot be spread from person to person. While the majority of infections are asymptomatic, this specific case represents a severe manifestation of the disease. Health authorities continue to monitor the situation, urging the public to take necessary precautions against mosquito bites during the summer months.

While this is the first confirmed case for 2026, some reports suggest that additional cases may have been hospitalized earlier in the summer, though official confirmation focuses on this current, ongoing incident. The patient, who required intubation following a decline in his condition, is reportedly showing signs of improvement.