The virus has already appeared in European countries such as Italy and France, as well as in the United States, Asia, and Africa. Vaccines are available in the U.S., but in Cyprus, treatment focuses on symptom management in consultation with healthcare providers

Once infected, individuals typically experience fever, severe joint pain, headache, rash, and muscle aches. While the fatality rate is below 1%, widespread infection means that even this small percentage could result in thousands of deaths

Nestos authorities are calling for the region to be declared in a state of emergency due to the alarming rise in mosquito populations posing health risks.