Oropouche fever recently killed two people in Brazil, marking the first time in history that this insect-borne disease has been fatal.
Oropouche fever, a new global threat? – Pixabay photo
Two women in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia have died after contracting the Oropouche virus. It is a world premiere, the Brazilian Ministry of Health announced in a press release on Thursday, July 25. The victims had “under 30 years, without comorbidities, but presented (…) symptoms similar to a severe form of dengue fever“, the health authorities specified, adding that “to date, no deaths related to this disease (have) been reported in the world scientific literature”, according to Allo Docteurs.
What is Oropouche fever?
First detected in 1960 in Brazil, Oropouche fever is transmitted by insects such as mosquitoes and midges of the Diptera family. Although the symptoms are similar to those of dengue fever, such as fever, muscle and joint pain, and there are no specific treatments or vaccines, the disease is considered milder in most cases.
“It is very important to emphasize that, according to our current knowledge, the virus is not transmitted directly from person to person,” the Italian researcher in the field of infectious diseases Concetta Castilletti told AFP, quoted by News.ro.
Concerns and investigations
Brazilian authorities are currently investigating six possible cases of vertical mother-to-child transmission and another death in the state of Santa Catarina that may be linked to Oropouche fever. The virus has also been detected in other Latin American countries, including Bolivia, Peru, Cuba and Colombia, with more than 7,700 cases reported in 2024.
Brazil alone recorded 7,236 cases in 2024, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Health.
For researchers studying Oropouche fever, the spread of the virus outside its endemic regions was not unexpected. Socorro Azevedo of the Evandro Chagas Institute in the Brazilian Amazon points out that the spread of the virus, seen since the 2000s, was to be expected.
“What we see is a chronicle of an announced tragedy,” she states.
Spread and prevention
The virus is considered insufficiently studied and poorly understood compared to other arboviruses, such as dengue and chikungunya.
The virus “has the potential to appear as a substantial threat”, given its ability to spread widely and cause serious health problems.
There are concerns that climate change and rising temperatures could expand the range of infected mosquitoes and associated viruses.
Due to the large number of travelers visiting the affected regions, “we can reasonably expect more cases” in Europe, Concetta Castilletti said.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us to expect the unexpected“, she added.
Increased human movement between forest and urban areas could contribute to the spread of the virus, researchers believe. Deforestation is also thought to be a major factor, displacing the virus’s animal hosts and prompting the flies to feed on humans instead of livestock.
“It should be emphasized that the whole man is to blame in this case too! Deforestation and all the destructive actions of man vis a vis nature lead to imbalances of all kinds and the transfer of various viruses from wild animals to humans. There is thus a risk that these viruses will adapt to the human species as SARS CoV 2 did and generate even major public health problems.”, previously explained Dr. Emilian Popovici, vice-president of the Romanian Society of Epidemiology, for “truth“.
Symptoms and prevention
Oropouche virus causes dengue-like symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, joint stiffness, headache, vomiting and chills. Severe cases can lead to serious complications such as meningitis. Symptoms appear 4-8 days after being bitten by infected insects and last between 3 and 6 days. There are no specific treatments or vaccines for this disease.
To prevent infection, it is essential to avoid insect bites using repellents, mosquito nets and protective clothing. Researchers and public health authorities stress the importance of continuing studies to better understand the virus and prevent potential future outbreaks of Oropouche virus.
