Cyprus has confirmed a second case of bacterial meningitis involving an infant from Paphos who has been transferred to Makarios Hospital for treatment, the Director of Medical Services Elisavet Konstantinou confirmed on Tuesday.
This announcement follows yesterday’s detection of bacterial meningitis in a high school student from Limassol who is also currently hospitalised.
Health authorities report that the two cases appear unrelated, and relevant health ministry protocols have been activated in both instances, with preventive medication administered to those who had close contact with the infected individuals.
“Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection, unlike viral meningitis which one can overcome without particular problems,” Michalis Anastasiades, president of the Cyprus Paediatric Society, told philenews.
A health ministry statement emphasised that meningococcal transmission requires close person-to-person contact through respiratory droplets. The risk primarily concerns individuals living in the same household as the patient, particularly children, those who share the same classroom daily, or adults working together for extended periods in enclosed spaces.
Health officials noted that meningococcus does not survive in the environment, thus special disinfection measures or school closures are not necessary for prevention.
Four cases of meningococcal disease were reported to health authorities in 2024, while two unrelated cases have been reported since the beginning of 2025 through March 18, according to official data.
The health ministry recommends strict adherence to personal hygiene practices to limit transmission, including covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, regular handwashing, and avoiding sharing personal items such as dishes, glasses, and toothbrushes.
Two types of meningococcal vaccines are available in Cyprus: the quadrivalent conjugate vaccine (MenACWY), which is included in the national immunisation programme and provided free of charge, and the protein-based group B vaccine (MenB-4C or MenB-FHbp).
