Nicosia: Two cases of dengue fever were recorded in July, in Cyprus, according to State Health Services Organisation. In a statement, the Organisation's press spokesperson, Charalambos Charilaou, clarified that last month "two cases of Dengue fever were recorded, and not of West Nile virus, as has been reported."
According to Cyprus News Agency, Charilaou stated that the cases involved a woman who had recently traveled and developed symptoms. She sought medical attention at the A and E department of a state hospital. During her examination, a healthcare professional who came into contact with her blood also contracted the virus. Both patients were discharged several days ago.
Speaking to CNA, Aristos Aristodemou, an infectious disease specialist at the Ministry of Health, explained that there is no link between the occurrence of dengue fever and West Nile virus, as they are transmitted by different vectors. Dengue is primarily spread through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, both present in Cyprus. Conversely, the West Nile virus is transmitted by the Culex mosquito, also found in Cyprus.
Aristodemou emphasized that no cases of dengue fever have been caused by mosquito bites in Cyprus this year or in previous years. Regarding the human-to-human transmission observed in the healthcare professional's case, he noted that this is described in medical literature as an occupational infection and accident. He added that while rare, such occurrences are documented as accidents.