First Monkeypox Case of the Year Reported in Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus has confirmed its first monkeypox case in two years, sparking action by health authorities over the weekend.

According to the Director of the Ministry of Health’s Medical Services, the patient visited Nicosia General Hospital presenting symptoms of a viral infection.

The patient, a Cypriot citizen who recently returned to the island from a European country, has been hospitalized. His condition is reported to be stable. Authorities have taken all necessary steps for diagnosis, treatment, and tracing of close contacts.

A representative of the Ministry of Health noted that this is the sixth recorded case of monkeypox in Cyprus and the first case reported this year.

What is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a viral infectious disease that can affect both humans and certain animals. Early symptoms include fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and fatigue. These are followed by a distinctive rash, which progresses to blisters and scabs. The incubation period—time from exposure to symptom onset—is approximately 10 days, and symptoms typically last two to four weeks.

How is Monkeypox Transmitted?
The virus can spread through handling infected meat, bites or scratches from infected animals, bodily fluids, contaminated objects, or close contact with an infected person. Monkeypox is thought to circulate in wild rodents in Africa.

Diagnosis is confirmed by testing lesions for the presence of the virus’s DNA. The symptoms of monkeypox can sometimes resemble those of chickenpox.