The first case of the West Nile virus in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was confirmed by the health authorities on Tuesday.

The case was identified in Lefkoşa.

The virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito.

The health ministry added that people who have contracted the virus rarely transmit it to other humans, not even hospitalised patients to healthcare staff.

Following the mosquito bite, symptoms typically appear within two to 14 days. In the majority of cases, infected individuals infected with the virus either remain asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms.

Only a very small percentage – less than one per cent – develop encephalitis, meningitis, or paralysis. People aged over 50 and those with compromised immune systems or underlying chronic conditions are at greater risk of severe illness.

The Ministry emphasized in its statement that prevention measures are crucial because there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the disease.

“To prevent the breeding of mosquitoes carrying the disease around our homes, it is important to eliminate breeding opportunities for them in containers and other areas where stagnant water collects. This includes emptying water from pots, decorative pools, containers, and areas where water collects in hoses,” the health ministry statement said.

It also stated that alongside continuous mosquito control efforts, efforts to identify mosquito species and raise public awareness about preventive measures are ongoing.