The oropouche virus outbreak in Cuba is still ongoing and the detection of cases in returning travelers continuous.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on 27 Aug 2024 the detection of 21 cases of oropouche fever in people who returned from Cuba, 3 of whom required hospitalization. These cases were recorded up to 16 Aug 2024, and most of those affected presented symptoms between May and July 2024.
Canary islands: In August three cases of oropouche virus infection have been confirmed on Canary islands among travelers returning from Cuba.
According to WHO, as of 20 July 2024, a total of 8’078 confirmed oropouche cases, including two deaths, have been reported in the Region of the Americas, across five countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, and Peru.
Oropouche fever is a viral disease that is transmitted by mosquito bites. The virus is found in several regions of the Americas, particularly in Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago.
The clinical picture includes dengue-like symptoms with sudden onset of high fever, headache, myalgia, skin rash, joint pain and vomiting. The disease usually lasts 3-6 days. A short-term recurrence of symptoms can occur in up to 60% of cases. Rare complications include inflammation of the brain. In 2024, a small number of cases of transmission from mother to unborn child (vertical transmission) were reported for the first time.
Prevention: Optimal mosquito protection 24/7 (also against other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, Chikungunyaand malaria).
Given its clinical presentation, Oropouche fever should be included in the clinical differential diagnosis for other common vector-borne diseases in the region of the Americas (e.g., malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever.
The occurrence of vertical transmission of OROV adds a new dimension to the pathogenicity of the virus. The extent of possible foetal malformations or death in the context of an OROV outbreak situation is currently still unclear and is being investigated. Until further data is available, pregnant women and women planning to be pregnant should be provided with comprehensive information during pre-travel consultation on the OROV outbreak and the potential of miscarriage, fetal malformation or death. The current outbreaks occur in regions where Zika virus is also endemic, and travel advice for pregnant women related to ZIKV can also adequately address the potential risk associated with Oropouche virus disease; for detailed ECTM recommendations on Zika prevention, see LINK.
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