Filenews 7 August 2025
The Chikungunya virus is not circulating in Cyprus and no domestic cases have been recorded, the Ministry of Health said in a statement, noting that the carrier (mosquito-transmitter) exists on the island and for this reason surveillance and prevention measures are being taken.
The Ministry of Health makes recommendations to the public for its protection.
As it informs in a statement, the Chikungunya virus is the cause of a viral infection, transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes, mainly the species Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
He emphasizes that "although the virus does not circulate in Cyprus and no domestic cases have been recorded, the vector (mosquito-transmitter) exists on our island and for this reason surveillance and prevention measures are taken".
The Ministry of Health informs that the virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, however, it assures that it is not transmitted from person to person.
He explains that mosquitoes that transmit the virus bite mainly during the day and multiply in stagnant water near homes.
With regard to the symptoms of the disease, he says that the most common symptoms appear 2 to 7 days after the sting and include high fever, severe joint pain (mainly in the arms and legs), headache, muscle aches and fatigue, and in some cases cause a skin rash.
Usually the disease resolves in a few days, but joint pain can last weeks or even months, according to the ministry.
It recommends that the public use insect repellents on the skin, wear long clothing, especially at dawn and dusk, place screens on doors and windows, and remove stagnant water from pots, containers, buckets or other surfaces where mosquitoes may reproduce.
Finally, it notes that in case of returning from a country where the virus is endemic and the appearance of the aforementioned symptoms, it is recommended to immediately contact the personal doctor and strictly follow his instructions.
