Oropouche virus disease, also known as Oropouche fever, is caused by the Oropouche virus (OROV). It can cause fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, chills, nausea, vomiting, and rash. Most individuals recover on their own, but the disease can cause severe symptoms in some cases.
The virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected insect, usually biting midges but also possibly by mosquitoes – it is an arthropod-borne virus or arbovirus.
Before late 2023, cases of Oropouche virus disease were mainly limited to South America, mostly near the Amazon rainforest, and the Caribbean. However, in 2024 the disease emerged in countries where it had not been seen – particularly Brazil. There were more than 16,000 cases in 2024 compared to just over 800 the previous year. The disease also appeared to be more severe.
The incubation period for the Oropouche virus is typically three to 10 days. Symptoms include:
Most cases recover within seven days after the onset of symptoms, though some patients may take weeks to recover.
Previously, Oropouche was thought to have been a relatively mild illness – although experts have said that in the past more severe cases of the disease may have been misdiagnosed.
However, in 2024 there were four deaths and five recorded cases of complications in pregnant women who had contracted the virus. Four of the babies died and one baby was born with microcephaly – where the brain does not develop properly.
The Oropouche virus is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of Culicoides paraensis midges. Certain mosquitoes, such as Culex quinquefasciatus, Coquillettidia venezuelensis, and Aedes serratus, can also act as carriers. The virus circulates in forested areas and in an urban epidemic cycle between insects and people. In the forested areas non-human primates, sloths and perhaps birds serve as vertebrate hosts.
There have been no confirmed reports of direct human-to-human transmission however, research is currently underway to fully understand how it is transmitted.
There is no specific treatment available for Oropouche virus disease. Treatment is primarily supportive and focuses on relieving symptoms.
There is no vaccine available to prevent Oropouche virus disease. Prevention relies on controlling the insects that carry the disease, and personal protective measures.
To prevent insect bites, use insect repellents, wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and trousers. Control biting insects in and around where you are staying.
Standard bed nets are less effective against midges, so fine mesh bed nets and chemical insecticides on walls are recommended. Insect repellents containing DEET, IR3535, or icaridin are also advised.
The Oropouche virus was first identified in 1955 in Vega de Oropouche, Trinidad and Tobago. Before late 2023, Oropouche virus disease was mainly reported in South America, particularly near the Amazon rainforest, and the Caribbean.
Since December 2023, there has been an explosion in the number of cases reported, including in areas where transmission had not been previously documented. Brazil was by far the hardest hit country with around 13,000 documented cases – but there have also been infections in Barbados, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala.
According to the Pan American Health Organization there were just over 16,000 cases in 2024, compared to just over 800 in the whole of 2023. Cases were also reported among travellers returning from affected countries to the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, and Germany.
A paper in Lancet Infectious Diseases reported that the virus underwent a genetic change meaning it was able to replicate more quickly and become more virulent and affected populations had little immunity to this new variant. However, other factors may also explain the disease’s emergence – for example increased human encroachment into forested areas and climate change.
who.int/oropouche-virus-disease
paho.org/oropouche-virus-disease
Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
此内容由惯性聚合(RSS阅读器)自动聚合整理，仅供阅读参考。 原文来自 — 版权归原作者所有。