The first ever deaths from Oropouche virus were also confirmed recently in Brazil, adding to concerns about the current outbreak.
Oropouche virus is an arthropod-borne virus – meaning it’s transmitted to humans if they’re bitten by infected midges or mosquitoes.
It’s estimated that more than half a million people have been infected by Oropouche virus since it was first detected.
It’s not entirely clear just yet why Oropouche virus cases are so high this year.
The likelihood of the spread of Oropouche virus in the UK and Europe is considered very low, despite imported cases being confirmed.
After 19 cases of the insect-borne disease Oropouche virus were confirmed in Europe for the first time ever, health officials have issued a travel advisory. After vacations in Brazil and Cuba, those who tested positive for the virus had just returned.
There is currently an Oropouche virus outbreak in parts of South America and Cuba, with many times more cases than usual. Concerns regarding the current outbreak have increased with the confirmation of the first Oropouche virus-related deaths in Brazil recently.
The Orophouche virus is spread by arthropods, such as midges or mosquitoes, and can infect humans through bites. After dengue virus, it’s the most common arthropod-borne viral illness in South America.
The virus was first identified in 1955 in a forest laborer from Trinidad and Tobago who had fallen ill while working close to the Oropouche River. Around 11,000 cases were reported during the first significant outbreak in Belém, Brazil, in the 1960s.
The Oropouche virus has since caused numerous outbreaks. Since the Oropouche virus was discovered, it’s estimated that over 500,000 people have contracted the infection.
Although primarily in the Amazon region of Brazil and Peru, outbreaks have mostly happened in tropical regions of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
Infected midges or mosquitoes, usually those found in wooded areas and near bodies of water, are the main vectors through which the Oropouche virus is spread to humans. Transmission typically takes place during the day, particularly at dawn and dusk.
An abrupt fever, headache, dizziness, chills, muscle aches and pains, and light sensitivity are all common symptoms of the Oropouche virus disease. Usually, these signs and symptoms appear two to five days after the infected insect bite.
The majority of patients recover without any lasting effects, but if you resume demanding activities too soon after becoming sick, your symptoms may return.
While patients can receive pain management and rehydration treatments to manage symptoms, there are currently no specific antiviral treatments available for Oropouche virus disease.
Oropouche virus can result in major side effects like meningitis and encephalitis even though it usually is not fatal. Because the Oropouche virus caused symptoms to appear suddenly and cause hemorrhaging, two young Brazilian women recently passed away from the virus.
A wave of stillbirths, birth defects, and miscarriages in Brazil may also be linked to the virus.
Rising cases.
More than 8,000 Oropouche virus cases have been confirmed in the Americas between January and mid-July of this year, marking a dramatic rise in the virus.
Brazil has seen more than 7,000 of these cases. The 832 cases that were reported there the previous year represent a considerable increase. For the first time ever, the virus has directly caused two deaths, which is worrisome in addition to the alarming increase in cases. Another concerning development is the reported occurrence of outbreaks in previously undiscovered regions of the Oropouche virus.
The reason behind this year’s unusually high number of Oropouche virus cases is still unclear. Given that insects mature more quickly in areas with warmer temperatures, climate change may be a contributing factor. Flooding also produces more standing water, which gives insects the ideal habitat for reproduction.
The Oropouche virus may also be spreading due to factors like deforestation, which displaces mosquitoes and leads them to feed on people rather than animals, and increased migration of people between urban and forested areas across the continent.
The ability of a virus to spread, infect, cause illness, and elude the immune system can also be affected by mutations. According to preliminary data, the current outbreak of the virus may be caused by mutations and genetic alterations in its genome.
The Oropouche virus poses a serious risk to public health, but as of right now, there are no approved vaccinations to stop the illness.
Therefore, avoiding insect bites in regions where the Oropouche virus is prevalent—most notably in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean—is the best defense against the disease.
Applying insect repellent is the best defense against insect bites. Seek for products with diethyltoluamide (DEET) and picaridin.
For exposed skin, try to apply a thin, even layer of repellent. Reapply as needed, especially after swimming or if you’ve become extremely perspiring. Sunscreen should be topped with repellent.
In addition to applying repellent, you can keep mosquitoes out of your home by covering doors and screens, covering your arms and legs, and wearing long clothing. Additionally, fans might aid in driving insects away.
In order to lessen the areas around your house where female insects can lay their eggs, you should also make sure to remove any food waste, dead leaves, and water reservoirs.
Despite confirmed imported cases, the possibility of the Oropouche virus spreading to the UK and Europe is regarded as extremely low. For now, there have been no reports of human-to-human transmission of the virus, which explains why it is spread from insect to human.
Visitors to regions (like Brazil) where outbreaks occur frequently should exercise extra caution and take preventative measures to avoid getting infected.
Manal Mohammed is a senior lecturer at the University of Westminster teaching medical microbiology.
