Italy has reported its first case of the tropical virus. The Robert Koch Institute has been warning for a long time. So far, only the symptoms can be alleviated.
Tropical diseases are on the rise in Europe. After dengue fever in particular recently spread, there is now talk of a new tropical virus – the Oropouche virus, which is mainly widespread in the Amazon region. Italy has now announced a case of the disease, the first known case of Oropouche fever in Europe. What kind of disease is this? How dangerous is the tropical virus? And is the virus likely to spread in Europe? An overview of the current state of knowledge.
What is Oropouche fever?
Oropouche fever is an infectious disease caused by the tropical Oropouche virus that causes flu-like symptoms in humans. The disease is similar to dengue fever.
How is the Oropouche virus transmitted?
The virus is transmitted to humans by insects, especially mosquitoes and midges. The virus can occur in both urban and rural areas. The likelihood of infection increases during the rainy season. Transmission from person to person is not yet known.
Where is the tropical virus widespread?
The Oropouche virus is mainly found in the Amazon region. It has been identified in countries in Central and South America and in parts of the Caribbean. In South America it is one of the most widespread viruses, the arboviruses. Officially, half a million cases of Oropouche fever have been diagnosed since 1955. However, the number of unreported cases is probably much higher.
According to an epidemiological update, more than 5,000 cases of Oropouche fever occurred in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Cuba between January and April this year. The case now reported in Italy is reportedly a man who had previously been in the Caribbean.
How dangerous is Oropouche fever?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infected people typically recover within seven days. In rare cases, however, the illness can last for weeks. Although Oropouche fever is not usually fatal, in individual cases an infection can cause severe symptoms, particularly in immunocompromised people.
What symptoms occur when an infection occurs?
The first symptoms usually appear about three to eight days after a person has been bitten by a vector insect. These symptoms are largely comparable to those of other tropical viral fevers such as dengue, Zika or Chkungunya, which makes a clear diagnosis difficult.
Symptoms of the disease include high fever, general malaise, headache, aching limbs, muscle pain, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, chills and sensitivity to light. Severe symptoms are rare, but there have been reports of isolated cases in which the central nervous system was affected, such as in meningitis and encephalitis.
In more than half of cases (about 60 percent), an initial acute phase is followed by a second one. The symptoms reappear in a milder form after two to ten days, sometimes even after a month.
How is Oropouche fever treated?
There is currently no specific treatment or vaccination for Oropouche fever. Therapy currently aims to alleviate symptoms.
Is a spread of the tropical virus to be expected in Europe?
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has been warning for several years that the climate crisis, rising temperatures and longer periods of warm weather are increasing the risk of vectors such as tiger mosquitoes and yellow fever mosquitoes settling in Germany and of tropical diseases spreading. These include malaria, the West Nile virus, Zika and dengue.
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Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
