A little known virus is spreading throughout the Americas, prompting the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other health agencies to issue warnings for travelers and clinicians.
Oropouche virus, an arbovirus similar to dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, is spread through certain midge or mosquito bites.
Symptoms often mirror these other arboviruses, including fever, rashes, muscle aches, and headaches. Generally, these symptoms last about five to seven days, but the virus is now linked to severe fetal outcomes, including congenital abnormalities and death.
First detected back in 1955 in Trinidad and Tobago, Oropouche had few cases reported annually, primarily concentrated within the heavily forested Amazon basin region.
Recently, though, the number of cases has skyrocketed. The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) has reported over 8,000 confirmed cases since January 2024, marking a nearly ten-fold increase compared to last year, with Brazil being the primary contributor.
Surprisingly, some countries, including Cuba and Bolivia, are witnessing cases for the very first time this year. According to PAHO statistics, Brazil leads with 7,284 recorded cases, followed by Cuba with over 400.
The dramatic rise has left public health officials scrambling for answers. Despite extensive research, key information about the virus remains elusive, including the reasons behind this year’s unusually aggressive outbreak.
Historically, the Oropouche virus has not been associated with deaths—dynamic changes this year have already resulted in fatalities, including two otherwise healthy Brazilian women.
Authorities, including PAHO, highlight the need for heightened surveillance as they note, “Although the disease has historically been described as mild, the geographic spread and detection of more severe cases necessitate increased scrutiny.”
Brazil was the first country to reveal instances of vertical transmission—where the disease is passed from mother to fetus—in the summer of 2024. Alerts indicate four cases of infant microcephaly and four suspected fetal deaths have emerged.
The CDC is also advising pregnant women to reconsider nonessential travel to Cuba and to adhere to preventive recommendations, including using insect repellent and ensuring proper window and door screens are installed.
The alarm from the CDC coincides with increasing reports of travel-associated cases across the US and Europe, mostly from travelers returning from Cuba and Brazil. Notably, local transmission has yet to be reported within the US or Europe.
Interestingly, the surge of Oropouche cases has intrigued public health authorities who are exploring potential environmental and genetic factors behind this outbreak.
Health experts attribute the virus's spread to climate change, deforestation, and urbanization. PAHO has noted, “Oropouche virus has infected people living in regions far from forested areas, indicating the possibility of an urban transmission pattern.”
The rapid increase echoes trends seen with dengue, zika, and chikungunya, which have also recorded substantial outbreaks this year. This year's unprecedented case counts have drawn attention from the global health community.
PAHO warns the actual number of cases may far exceed those reported, attributing the discrepancy to challenges surrounding effective diagnostics. The PAHO also emphasizes the importance of strengthening surveillance and laboratory diagnostics to identify severe cases quickly.
On August 20, 2024, Cuba’s Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda announced the country confirmed over 400 cases of Oropouche since the virus's detection on May 27. This marks Cuba as the second highest country for Oropouche cases within the Americas region.
According to the Minister, Cuba accounts for about 400 of the total 8,076 cases spread over five countries as of early August 2024. Cases continue to accrue throughout various provinces across the island.
The Minister made this announcement during the inauguration of the 18th International Course on Dengue and Other Emerging Arboviruses at the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine. This event has drawn officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) to discuss pressing health matters.
Despite the alarming numbers, some important questions linger. The health minister did not specify whether the confirmed cases were based solely on laboratory diagnostics, which have been limited due to shortages.
Comparatively, the Cuban Ministry of Health revealed over 35,000 cases under the banner of “endemic channel of febrile syndrome,” highlighting discrepancies between reported figures and the actual situation.
On its part, the CDC issued a level 2 alert for Cuba, advising enhanced preventive measures against the rising number of Oropouche virus cases. Pregnant women were particularly cautioned against traveling to Cuba, with suggestions to avoid travel whenever possible.
The alert follows several reports of imported cases from travelers returning from Cuba and shows the risk of Oropouche virus posing challenges not just to the islands but globally as well.
So far, at least 19 imported cases have been detected across Europe, mainly linked to travel from Cuba. Reports indicate cases rose significantly with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control confirming well over half of these cases emerged from Spain.
By early August, ten cases were reported from Spain alone, alongside growing rates for Italy and Germany. The European Centre confirmed it has seen increasing case numbers related to travel from Cuba, with travelers relaying the disease across borders.
This scenario portrays not only health systems of the Americas but also raises eyebrows about the potential of travel-associated disease spread globally. The sharp rise of Oropouche cases is pushing several countries to reconsider how prepared they are for arboviral outbreaks.
Oropouche virus, through its alarming spread, highlights just how interconnected our world is when it encounters health risks. The rapid increase of similarly contagious viruses signals the urgent need for enhanced public health responses and comprehensive measures to protect community health.
With uncertainties still plaguing the virus's nature and spread, public health officials remain alert. They urge countries to bolster prevention campaigns and strengthen entomological control actions.
Health agencies are working tirelessly to keep the public informed and to outline preventive measures for those traveling to high-risk regions. The Oropouche virus’s emergence demands vigilance from both health authorities and travelers alike, as symptoms closely resemble those of related arboviruses.
Going forward, as Oropouche virus continues to spread, community awareness and adherence to preventive measures will be key to control its effects.
Experts remain hopeful for breakthroughs as improving diagnostics and enhanced public health strategies could potentially dissect the virus's mysteries behind its recent outbreak. Effective action today could lay the groundwork for mitigating future spikes and safeguarding vulnerable populations against arboviral diseases.
