Savior. In Brazil, two people have died for the first time due to the Oropouche virus, transmitted by a vector. “So far there have been no reports of deaths from the disease in the world’s scientific literature,” the Ministry of Health reported on Thursday (local time).
The cases are women from the interior of Bahia, in the northeast of Brazil. Both were under 30 years old, had no comorbidities, but presented signs and symptoms similar to those of severe dengue. Another death in the south of the state of Santa Catarina is still under investigation.
Fever caused by Oropouche virus (OROV) infection is clinically similar to dengue fever. According to the U.S. CDC, after an incubation period of 3 to 10 days, affected individuals develop fever, headache, chills, myalgias, and arthralgias.
Photophobia, dizziness, retro-orbital or ocular pain, and nausea and vomiting may also occur. Maculopapular rashes that begin on the trunk and may extend to the extremities have also been described. In most patients, symptoms become self-limiting within a few days, but relapse often occurs.
Rarely also severe neuroinvasive courses
In some of those affected, laboratory tests show lymphopenia and leukopenia, elevated CRP, and slightly elevated liver enzymes. Thrombocytopenia has also been reported in some cases. In severe cases, neuroinvasive progression may occur.
OROV was first isolated in 1955 from a forestry worker with fever in the village of Vega de Oropouche, located on the banks of the river of the same name (Trinidad and Tobago). The Simbu serogroup virus of the genus Orthobunyavirus is considered endemic to the Amazon basin. It was only in June of this year that an outbreak was first reported in Cuba (Infect Dis lancet. 2024;24:e484). Typical vectors of viruses are midges (Culicoides paraensis) and mosquitoes (Culex quinquefasciatus).
In Brazil, six cases with possible effects on fetuses are being investigated. Health authorities are conducting tests to determine whether there is a link between Oropouche fever and cases of birth defects or miscarriages. (no/dpa)