Four soldiers serving with the Greek forces in Cyprus (Eldyk) remained under medical supervision on Friday after a meningitis case at an Eldyk military camp led to hospitalisations and precautionary health measures within the base.

Doctors at Nicosia general hospital confirmed that three soldiers initially admitted as suspected meningitis cases were later diagnosed with adenovirus following PCR testing.

Their condition was described as stable and they continue to receive treatment in the hospital’s special infections unit.

The fourth soldier, diagnosed with meningitis earlier this week, remains intubated in intensive care.

Okypy spokesman Charalambos Charilaou said the patient was “on a ventilator” and required high levels of oxygen support, though doctors viewed the presence of fever as an encouraging sign in his response to treatment.

“We hope that at the end of the day he will respond to the treatment he needs and will manage to leave the ICU,” Charilou said.

All four developed symptoms at the Eldyk camp.

Authorities had initially treated the cases as possible meningitis infections because the men had been identified as close contacts of the critically ill soldier.

Charilaou said laboratory testing later indicated adenovirus rather than meningitis.

“They have not been diagnosed with meningitis,” he said. “According to the treating doctors it was revealed that it is adenovirus.”

Adenovirus commonly causes respiratory illness but can also affect the eyes, gastrointestinal tract and urinary system.

Symptoms may resemble influenza during the early stages, making diagnosis more difficult without specialised testing.

“It may initially resemble a normal cold or the flu,” Charilaou said.

“Some laboratory tests need to be done to clarify how these symptoms differ from others.”

Defence ministry spokesman Christos Pieris said on Thursday that the soldier in intensive care had recently suffered from tonsillitis, adding that “his immune system was not in very good condition.”

Health and defence authorities have implemented precautionary measures inside the military camp, including disinfection of communal areas, replacement of bed linens and preventive medication for soldiers considered exposed to the confirmed meningitis case.

Close contacts were also instructed to wear masks temporarily as health officials attempted to limit any further spread within the barracks.

Charilaou said both adenovirus and meningitis spread primarily through droplets and close personal contact.

“The people there must wear their masks,” he stressed, adding that authorities had carried out tracing procedures and reduced crowding inside sleeping quarters.

Asked whether there had been delays in diagnosing or transporting the critically ill soldier, Charilaou said hospital staff acted immediately upon his arrival.

“As soon as he came to us, all the procedures were carried out,” he said.

He added that doctors could not yet determine whether the meningitis infection may have emerged as a complication linked to adenovirus.

Officials stressed there was no broader concern regarding transmission inside Nicosia general hospital because isolation protocols were being followed for all infected patients.