The disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, has symptoms similar to those of dengue, although milder. There have already been 7,236 cases in the neighbouring country this year.
He Ministry of Health of Brazil reported the first two deaths in the world due to the Oropouche virus. The disease is transmitted through gnats and mosquitoes and has symptoms similar to those of denguealthough milder. Since it was first detected in 1960, Cases were reported in the Amazon region and other Latin American countries.
The first deaths from fever Oropouche coincide with the Dengue outbreak in Brazil this yearthe worst in its history, with at least 4,824 confirmed deaths 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 old, without comorbidities, but who They had signs and symptoms similar to a severe case of dengue fever“, they reported in a statement.
They also stated that “so far There was no report in the world’s scientific literature on deaths from the disease.”They are also investigating another suspected Oropouche death in the southern state of Santa Catarina.
Concerns grow over Oropouche fever in Brazil
According to the Brazilian government, at least 1,000 new cases were recorded in 2024. 7,236 cases of the disease in the country, mainly in the Amazon region.
Brazilian health authorities are also studying six possible cases of vertical transmission of the disease, that is, of the pregnant mother to son. Two of those cases ended with the fetal deathone had a spontaneous abortion and three had congenital abnormalities, such as microcephaly.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the transmission of viruses that carry fever Oropouche It is common in rural and urban communities in countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago.
Particularly this year the virus was detected in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peruaccording to a WHO report from early June.
Source: Ambito
