OROPOUCHE VIRUS | Unprecedented Oropouche Outbreak Puts Latin America on Alert

Authorities in Brazil, Cuba and Colombia are concerned unprecedented outbreak of oropuchea disease that is transmitted by mosquito bites and which For the first time, it caused two deaths in the South American giant. Meanwhile, in other Latin American countries where there is still no data on patients, measures are being taken to prevent their spread.

Pan American Section World Health Organization (WHO) released in July 2024. epidemiological alarm due to the increase in positivity oropouche virus (OROV) in five American countries: Bolivia, Peru, Cuba, Colombia and Brazil. In the latter they have already registered There have been 7,767 cases registered this year.. In addition, on July 25, Brazilian authorities reported that two women, aged 21 and 24, had died from the disease. There had been no previous records of deaths from the disease in the scientific literature, the WHO said.

IN CubaAccording to the country’s Health Ministry, the number of cases has increased “significantly” since the first positive results were confirmed on May 27, particularly in the province of Santiago de Cuba. Since then, cases have spread to all 15 provinces on the island. 400 patients have already been counted..

“Difficult” situation

Authorities They describe the epidemiological situation as “complex.” due to the co-circulation of this pathogen with other viruses such as influenza and dengue, another virus spreading throughout Latin America. In this sense, the sporadic heavy rains of the summer and the fuel crisis on the island, which makes fumigation impossible, served breeding ground for the spread of disease.

For its part, Colombia, oropushka fever It is endemic. According to the National Institute of Health, thanks to continuous surveillance of dengue fever in the country, it was possible to identify 87 positive samples out of 1,279 cases of dengue fever. Its director, Giovanni Rubiano Garcia, assured in early August that infection prevention and control measures “remain active”.

Argentina, Mexico and Uruguay tighten controls

IN ArgentinaIn the country, where no cases of the virus have been detected after 966 laboratory tests were conducted in connection with negative observation results, epidemiological surveillance measures have been strengthened and the Ministry of Health has published a list of preventive indications. These include installation of “barrier methods” in homesmeasures personal protection and a number of “good social and environmental practices” such as draining water intakes.

IN MexicoThere have been no cases reported yet, but on June 4, the Deputy Minister of Prevention and Health Promotion issued a travel advisory for the disease to Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba and Peru. The document stated that the risk level was averageHe therefore asked travellers planning to visit any of these countries to familiarise themselves with the situation and get all vaccinations, as well as to protect themselves from mosquito bites by using special repellents and appropriate clothing.

He also arrived in Spain.

In early August, the Ministry of Health confirmed that it had identified Five cases in travelers from Cuba so far this summer. He also announced that I expected the number of infections to increase.The Coordination Centre for Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES) said the risk of transmission of the Oropouche virus was “very low” because it is transmitted by a mosquito that is not found on the peninsula or in Europe.

On the contrary, WHO believes that risk level in Latin America is “high”. Oropouche fever was first identified in 1955 near the Oropouche River in Trinidad and Tobago. The disease is zoonotic: transmitted mosquitoes carry the virus to humans. There is no evidence that it was transmitted between people.As for the main insect responsible for the infestation, it is not an ordinary insect, but the so-called “Culicoide paraensis”, commonly known as “Culicoide paraensis”. mosquito. There is no vaccine or treatment specific to infection.