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

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 isthe 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 Oropouchecan 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.

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.

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Oropouche virus Prevention and treatment

There is no known treatment, or vaccines to prevent Oropouche viraldisease.

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)