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The crime rate in Cyprus isn't especially high, and there's no reason for travellers to take anything beyond ordinary precautions. While muggings and violent crime are extremely rare (especially once away from Lefkosia), it's always a good idea to be vigilant with personal property. Secure valuables whenever possible, avoid keeping all essentials in the one place, and lock vehicles, leaving belongings out of sight. Be conscious that crowded tourist areas and public transport are the most likely sites for pickpocketing and other property crime.
It pays to be extra-cautious in the area surrounding the Attila (or Green) Line that demarcates North and South Cyprus. While the barbed wire and sentry posts are usually good clues to keep clear, these are less visible in parts of the east. If you do want to cross the Line, make sure you do it in a designated area and in a lawful fashion.
Heatstroke occurs following excessive fluid loss with inadequate replacement of fluids and salt. Symptoms include headache, dizziness and tiredness. Dehydration is already happening by the time you feel thirsty; aim to drink sufficient water to produce pale, diluted urine. To treat heatstroke, drink water and/or fruit juice, and cool the body with cold water and fans.
Avoid contact with jellyfish, which have stinging tentacles. Stings from jellyfish in Cyprus can be very painful, but are not dangerous. Dousing in vinegar will deactivate any stingers that have not 'fired'. Calamine lotion, antihistamines and analgesics may reduce the reaction and relieve the pain.
Sea urchins and weever fish can also occasionally strike.
This is a group of parasitic diseases transmitted by infected sandflies, which are found in Cyprus and Turkey. Cutaneous leishmaniasis affects the skin tissue, causing ulceration and disfigurement; and visceral leishmaniasis affects internal organs. Seek medical advice, as laboratory testing is required for diagnosis and treatment. Avoiding sandfly bites is the best precaution. Bites are usually itchy and yet another reason to cover up and apply repellent.
Lyme disease may be acquired in Cyprus. Seek immediate medical treatment if you believe you have it. The disease usually begins with a spreading rash at the site of the tick bite, and is accompanied by fever, headache, extreme fatigue, aching joints and muscles, and mild neck stiffness.
Other tick-borne diseases that may be caught are encephalitis and typhus. The former can occur in forest and rural areas, while the latter can be spread by ticks, mites or lice.
Seek local advice on areas where ticks pose a danger, and always check your skin carefully for ticks. An insect repellent can help, and walkers in tick-infested areas should consider having their boots and trousers impregnated with benzyl benzoate and dibutyl phthalate.
