After the first cases in Italy and Spain, Oropouche fever has now reached Germany. The Robert Koch Institute has been warning for some time about the spread of the tropical virus.
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. This is currently spreading in South and Central America, but Italy and Spain have also reported a few cases in recent weeks. These were people returning from Cuba and Brazil, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in its current “Epidemiological Bulletin”. The virus has now reached Germany. The RKI reports two infected people.
What kind of disease is Oropuche fever? 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 and 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 be found in both urban and rural areas. The likelihood of infection increases during the rainy season.
According to the RKI, these special mosquitoes do not exist in Europe. Transmission has not yet been observed in Europe, and it is unclear whether the virus could even be transmitted by a European mosquito species. Based on current knowledge, further spread in Germany is very unlikely, the authority emphasizes.
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 from January to April this year. More recent figures show that the spread is increasing. In Brazil alone, more than 7,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of Oropouche have been registered so far in 2024. These included two deaths related to the virus.
After the first known cases in Italy and Spain, Oropouche fever has now been registered for the first time in Germany. “So far, only travel-associated cases have been reported in Europe,” writes the RKI. The two German cases from Saxony and Baden-Württemberg also involve people returning from Cuba.
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.
The virus may possibly cause malformations in unborn children. Pregnant women should therefore avoid travelling to areas currently affected by the outbreak.
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.
This text was first published on June 24, 2024 and has been updated due to new developments.
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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.
