Oropouche Virus Outbreak: Europe has reported first-ever cases of Oropouche infection, weeks after at least two women in Brazil died of the viral fever in the first-ever casualties of the tropical disease.

Health officials in Europe have issued travel warnings to tourists after cases of Oropoche have been reported in people returning from Brazil and Cuba.

There were at least 19 cases of Oropouche virus disease reported for the first time in Europe. Among these, 12 were in Spain, five in Italy and two in Germany. All these were imported cases, with 18 infected people having travelled to Cuba and one to Brazil.

Oropouche virus (OROV) disease is&nbsp;the most prevalent insect-borne viral disease in South America after Dengue virus.

OROV disease has been reported in South America, Central America and the Caribbean this year, mainly in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Cuba.&nbsp;

There have been nearly 7,300 cases in Brazil in 2024 as against 832 last year.

Brazilian health officials have reported that Oropouche&nbsp;can be transmitted from mother to child, and was thought to be the cause of several birth defects and miscarriages in Brazil.

The women who died in Brazil in July were in their 20s and showed rapid onset symptoms including fever, joint pain, headaches and haemorrhaging.&nbsp;

<h2>What is Oropouche virus or OROV disease?</h2>

Oropouche virus or OROV is a rare zootonic disease that infects humans through bites from infected midges, gnats and mosquitos. The main vector is a midge called Culicoides paraensis, prevalent in the Americas, but absent in Europe.

Fatalities are extremely rare for Oropouche virus disease, which is why the deaths in Brazil are concerning.&nbsp;

There have been no recorded cases of human-to-human transmission of OROV disease.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astrazaneca-admits-in-court-document-its-covid-vaccine-can-in-very-rare-cases-cause-complications-716218">Also read |&nbsp;AstraZeneca admits in court that its Covid vaccine can ‘in very rare cases, cause TTS’</a>

<h2>Oropouche virus symptoms</h2>

When humans are affected by the Oropouche virus, the symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and rashes. US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention lists muscle aches, stiff joints, chills and sensitivity to light as symptoms.

"Severe cases may result in neuroinvasive disease such as meningitis," warns the CDC.

Symptoms typically appear four to eight days after being bitten and last three to six days, with most individuals recovering without long-term effects, according to the CDC.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/what-reasons-did-astrazeneca-give-while-withdrawing-its-covid-19-vaccine-globally-719321">Watch |&nbsp;What reasons did AstraZeneca give while withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccine globally?</a>

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<h2>Oropouche virus Prevention and treatment</h2>

There is no known treatment, or vaccines to prevent Oropouche viral&nbsp;disease.

The disease is often misidentified as dengue fever.

Named after the region where it was found, the Oropouche fever virus was first detected in the Oropouche River in Trinidad and Tobago. The virus was first isolated in 1955 in Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory.

(With inputs from agencies)

Oropouche Virus Outbreak: Europe has reported first-ever cases of Oropouche infection, weeks after at least two women in Brazil died of the viral fever in the first-ever casualties of the tropical disease.

Oropouche Virus Outbreak: Europe has reported first-ever cases of Oropouche infection, weeks after at least two women in Brazil died of the viral fever in the first-ever casualties of the tropical disease. Health officials in Europe have issued travel warnings to tourists after cases of Oropoche have been reported in people returning from Brazil and Cuba. There were at least 19 cases of Oropouche virus disease reported for the first time in Europe. Among these, 12 were in Spain, five in Italy and two in Germany. All these were imported cases, with 18 infected people having travelled to Cuba and one to Brazil. Oropouche virus (OROV) disease is the most prevalent insect-borne viral disease in South America after Dengue virus. OROV disease has been reported in South America, Central America and the Caribbean this year, mainly in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Cuba. There have been nearly 7,300 cases in Brazil in 2024 as against 832 last year. Brazilian health officials have reported that Oropouche can be transmitted from mother to child, and was thought to be the cause of several birth defects and miscarriages in Brazil. The women who died in Brazil in July were in their 20s and showed rapid onset symptoms including fever, joint pain, headaches and haemorrhaging. What is Oropouche virus or OROV disease? Oropouche virus or OROV is a rare zootonic disease that infects humans through bites from infected midges, gnats and mosquitos. The main vector is a midge called Culicoides paraensis, prevalent in the Americas, but absent in Europe. Fatalities are extremely rare for Oropouche virus disease, which is why the deaths in Brazil are concerning. There have been no recorded cases of human-to-human transmission of OROV disease. Also read | AstraZeneca admits in court that its Covid vaccine can ‘in very rare cases, cause TTS’ Oropouche virus symptoms When humans are affected by the Oropouche virus, the symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and rashes. US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention lists muscle aches, stiff joints, chills and sensitivity to light as symptoms. "Severe cases may result in neuroinvasive disease such as meningitis," warns the CDC. Symptoms typically appear four to eight days after being bitten and last three to six days, with most individuals recovering without long-term effects, according to the CDC. Watch | What reasons did AstraZeneca give while withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccine globally? × Oropouche virus Prevention and treatment There is no known treatment, or vaccines to prevent Oropouche viral disease. The disease is often misidentified as dengue fever. Named after the region where it was found, the Oropouche fever virus was first detected in the Oropouche River in Trinidad and Tobago. The virus was first isolated in 1955 in Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory. (With inputs from agencies)

Oropouche virus outbreak: First deaths in Brazil, first-ever cases in Europe. Know symptoms

The World Health Organization advised Ukraine to destroy high-threat pathogens housed in the country's public health laboratories to prevent "any potential spills" that would spread disease among the population, the agency told Reuters on Thursday.

Biosecurity experts say Russia's movement of troops into Ukraine and bombardment of its cities has raised the risk of an escape of disease-causing pathogens, should any of those facilities be damaged.

Like many other countries, Ukraine has public health laboratories researching how to mitigate the threats of dangerous diseases affecting both animals and humans including, most recently, COVID-19. Its labs have received support from the United States, the European Union and the WHO.

In response to questions from Reuters about its work with Ukraine ahead of and during Russia's invasion, the WHO said in an email that it has collaborated with Ukrainian public health labs for several years to promote security practices that help prevent "accidental or deliberate release of pathogens."

"As part of this work, WHO has strongly recommended to the Ministry of Health in Ukraine and other responsible bodies to destroy high-threat pathogens to prevent any potential spills," the WHO, a United Nations agency, said.

The WHO would not say when it had made the recommendation nor did it provide specifics about the kinds of pathogens or toxins housed in Ukraine's laboratories. The agency also did not answer questions about whether its recommendations were followed.

Ukrainian officials in Kyiv and at their embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.

Ukraine's laboratory capabilities are at the centre of a growing information war since Russia began moving troops into Ukraine two weeks ago.

On Wednesday, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova repeated a longstanding claim that the United States operates a biowarfare lab in Ukraine, an accusation that has been repeatedly denied by Washington and Kyiv.

Zakharova said that documents unearthed by Russian forces in Ukraine showed "an emergency attempt to erase evidence of military biological programmes" by destroying lab samples.

In response, a Ukrainian presidential spokesperson said: "Ukraine strictly denies any such allegation." U.S. government spokespeople also strongly denied Zakharova's accusations, saying that Russia may use its claims as a pretext to deploy its own chemical or biological weapons.

The WHO statement made no reference to biowarfare. The agency said it encourages all parties to cooperate in "the safe and secure disposal of any pathogens they come across, and to reach out for technical assistance as needed." It offered to help wherever possible with technical guidance and coordination.

The United Nations Security Council will convene on Friday at Russia's request, diplomats said, to discuss Moscow's claims, presented without evidence, of U.S. biological activities in Ukraine.

The World Health Organization advised Ukraine to destroy high-threat pathogens housed in the country's public health laboratories to prevent "any potential spills" that would spread disease among the population, the agency told Reuters on Thursday.

The World Health Organization advised Ukraine to destroy high-threat pathogens housed in the country's public health laboratories to prevent "any potential spills" that would spread disease among the population, the agency told Reuters on Thursday. Biosecurity experts say Russia's movement of troops into Ukraine and bombardment of its cities has raised the risk of an escape of disease-causing pathogens, should any of those facilities be damaged. Like many other countries, Ukraine has public health laboratories researching how to mitigate the threats of dangerous diseases affecting both animals and humans including, most recently, COVID-19. Its labs have received support from the United States, the European Union and the WHO. In response to questions from Reuters about its work with Ukraine ahead of and during Russia's invasion, the WHO said in an email that it has collaborated with Ukrainian public health labs for several years to promote security practices that help prevent "accidental or deliberate release of pathogens." "As part of this work, WHO has strongly recommended to the Ministry of Health in Ukraine and other responsible bodies to destroy high-threat pathogens to prevent any potential spills," the WHO, a United Nations agency, said. The WHO would not say when it had made the recommendation nor did it provide specifics about the kinds of pathogens or toxins housed in Ukraine's laboratories. The agency also did not answer questions about whether its recommendations were followed. Ukrainian officials in Kyiv and at their embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. Ukraine's laboratory capabilities are at the centre of a growing information war since Russia began moving troops into Ukraine two weeks ago. On Wednesday, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova repeated a longstanding claim that the United States operates a biowarfare lab in Ukraine, an accusation that has been repeatedly denied by Washington and Kyiv. Zakharova said that documents unearthed by Russian forces in Ukraine showed "an emergency attempt to erase evidence of military biological programmes" by destroying lab samples. In response, a Ukrainian presidential spokesperson said: "Ukraine strictly denies any such allegation." U.S. government spokespeople also strongly denied Zakharova's accusations, saying that Russia may use its claims as a pretext to deploy its own chemical or biological weapons. The WHO statement made no reference to biowarfare. The agency said it encourages all parties to cooperate in "the safe and secure disposal of any pathogens they come across, and to reach out for technical assistance as needed." It offered to help wherever possible with technical guidance and coordination. The United Nations Security Council will convene on Friday at Russia's request, diplomats said, to discuss Moscow's claims, presented without evidence, of U.S. biological activities in Ukraine.

Exclusive: WHO says it advised Ukraine to destroy pathogens in health labs to prevent disease spread

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