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Nine confirmed cases of Western Nile Virus

21/08/2019 16:53

The Health Ministry’s public health services announced that nine confirmed cases of Western Nile Virus (WNV) have been reported in Cyprus, four of them in the wider Nicosia area, four in the Famagusta area and one in Larnaca district.

According to an announcement issued by the Public Health Services, two of the cases are being treated at the Intensive Care Unit of Nicosia General Hospital, two in the Pathology ward, four have shown improvement and have been discharged and one elderly person has passed away.  
 
The public is advised to take precautionary measures which include wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants, especially around dusk.
  
If the problem is very severe, an insect repellent can be used when outdoors. Insecticides containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or eucalyptus essential oils last longer. Pregnant and lactating women should follow their doctor`s instructions, while DEET insect repellents are contraindicated in infants under two months of age and should be used with caution for children under 12 years of age. Insecticides with eucalyptus essential oils are contraindicated in children younger than 3 years.
 
At home, the public is urged to use screens on windows and doors, remove stagnant water from old tyres, repair leaking taps and anywhere or anything which the mosquitoes can use for hatching their eggs.
 
The use of fans and air conditioners although cannot kill the mosquitoes, decreases their activity. Yards should also be cleaned from falling leaves and grass cut. Watering is best done in the morning, it added while the use of yellow lighting attracts less mosquitoes.
 
Insecticides containing pyrethroids (eg permethrin) can be used. It also advises not to use insecticides on skin.