Assessing knowledge and risk perception of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne viruses among medical students in Cyprus: A cross-sectional MosquitoWise study
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Background
Cyprus has transitioned into a high-alert zone for mosquito-borne viruses. This necessitates a proactive assessment of its future physicians. Following the 2022 re-establishment of Aedes aegypti in Larnaca and Aedes albopictus in Limassol, Cyprus, the island is now biologically primed for local outbreaks of dengue, Zika and chikungunya, alongside Culex -borne West Nile virus. This study assessed medical students’ knowledge and risk perception.
Methods
A cross-sectional online survey administered the validated MosquitoWise Health Belief Model instrument to undergraduate-entry and graduate-entry students at a university in Cyprus in mid-2026.
Results
Of 1023 students, 119 responded (11.6%), with pre-clinical students overrepresented ( p <0.001). Mean knowledge was 5.43/9, stronger on mosquito biology (72.5%) than virus knowledge (54.2%). Median severity was 6.00/7 against susceptibility 4.25/7. Knowledge differed by study stage ( p <0.001), correlated with severity ( r s = 0.399) but not susceptibility.
Conclusions
This study establishes a critical baseline for pre-clinical medical students in Cyprus. Overall, participants performed better on mosquito biology when compared to mosquito-borne viruses and how they spread. Our findings highlight the value of integrating theoretical microbiology with clinical practice in medical education to enhance physicians’ preparedness for the changing landscape of newly emerging infections in Cyprus and across Europe as a whole.
