The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) strongly warned about the advance of Oropuchea viral disease that already has more than 10,300 cases in Latin America. These detections They are currently distributed in nine countries.
These cases had already been reported on October 15, affecting mainly Latin America and the Caribbean. This means that 423 infections were added in relation to September, when the epidemiological alert.
On the other hand, they recorded 90 imported cases in the United States, 2 Canada and 30 in Europerelated to travel to countries with transmission, carrying the virus upon returning to their country of origin.
In this context, PAHO insisted on “the importance of reinforcing diagnostic measuresclinical management, prevention and vector control in the region of the Americas.”
What is Oropuche fever?
Oropouche fever is a viral diseasewhose most common vector is midge Culicoides paraensisbut he is not the only one. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nation’s public health agency USAalso some types of mosquitoes can transmit itamong them Culex quinquefasciatus, Coquillettidia venezuelensis and Aedes serratus.
“The Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes They are the same ones that can spread the virus West Nile and the St. Louis encephalitis virus,” says the CDC’s official website.
The characteristic symptoms of this disease are: high fever, severe headache, photophobia, muscle and joint pain. It generally resolves in 2 to 3 weeks, but there is a risk of more serious complicationssuch as meningitis or encephalitis.
Furthermore, still There are no vaccines or specific antiviral treatments available., and only symptomatic relief remains. Likewise, it is not a new virus, but in 2024 it was detected in areas where transmission had not previously been reported.
They were even recorded, also for the first time, deaths associated with infection and cases of vertical transmission, which included stillbirths and congenital anomalies.
Brazil is the country that registered the most cases, with more than two thousand, followed by Peru, where 936 cases were observed. In Ecuador and in Colombia There are also serious concerns about the number of infected. In Argentinaits presence is still unknown.
In Brazil, the first two deaths in the world from the Oropouche virus were reported
He Brazilian Ministry of Health reported the two first deaths in the world due to the Oropouche virus. The disease is transmitted through gnats and mosquitoes and has symptoms similar to those of dengue, although milder. Since it was first detected in 1960, Cases were recorded in the Amazon region and in other Latin American countries.
The first deaths from fever Oropouche match the dengue outbreak that Brazil suffers this yearthe worst in its history, with at least 4,824 deaths confirmed since January 1, 2,250 in research and 6.4 million positive cases.
The victims They are two women from the interior of the state of Bahia. (northeast) “under 30 years of age, without comorbidities, but who had signs and symptoms similar to severe dengue fever“, they reported through a statement.
Furthermore, they stated that “until now “There was no report in the world scientific literature about deaths from the disease”. They are also investigating another death suspected of being by Oropouche in the state of Santa Catarina, in the south of the country.
Source: Ambito
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