Tropical disease reaches Italy: what is Oropouche fever?-Until now, the disease was mainly widespread in the tropics, but now it has reached Europe. Isolated cases of Oropouche fever have occurred in Italy. We explain how dangerous this disease is and how you can protect yourself.
Italy reports further cases of Oropouche fever. At the end of June, the Italian Ministry of Health had already registered the first case. The infected person had previously been to the Caribbean. According to a report in the Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica, there are now three more infections. In these cases too, the sick people were not infected in Italy, but in South America.
What you need to know about Oropouche fever
- What is Oropouche Fever?
- How is the Oropouche virus transmitted?
- What symptoms indicate Oropouche fever?
- Is Oropouche fever dangerous?
- How is Oropouche fever treated?
- How to protect yourself from Oropouche fever?
- Is there a vaccine for Oropouche fever?
- Is the likelihood of Oropouche cases increasing in Europe?
What is Oropouche Fever?
Oropouche fever is a disease caused by the Oropouche virus of the same name. The name is derived from the Oropouche River on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. The virus circulates primarily in Central and South America and the Caribbean. It has already been detected in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Cuba.
How is the Oropouche virus transmitted?
The Oropouche virus is one of the arboviruses, i.e. pathogens that are transmitted by blood-sucking insects such as ticks and mosquitoes. The main vectors of the Oropouche virus are the Culicoides paraensis mosquito , which is found in forest areas and near bodies of water, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes.
One bite from a mosquito infected with the Oropouche virus is enough to develop symptoms. It is suspected that other vertebrates such as primates and sloths, and possibly birds, can also become infected with the pathogen. However, a definitive arthropod vector – i.e. an invertebrate virus vector – has not yet been identified, explains the World Health Organization (WHO). There is currently no evidence that the Oropouche virus can be transmitted from person to person.
What symptoms indicate Oropouche fever?
Symptoms are similar to those of dengue fever, another mosquito-borne viral infection. After the mosquito infected with the Oropouche virus bites, four to eight days pass before the first symptoms appear.
Is Oropouche fever dangerous?
According to the WHO, serious illnesses are generally rare. “Most cases recover within seven days.” However, for some sufferers it could take weeks to fully recover.
How is Oropouche fever treated?
There are no medications that work directly against Oropouche fever. In the end, doctors can only alleviate individual symptoms. If you have fever and pain, you can administer pain-relieving and fever-reducing medicines. Most people recover from Oropouche fever without long-term effects.
How to protect yourself from Oropouche fever?
Anyone traveling to an area where the Oropouche virus is transmitted needs good mosquito repellent.
Is there a vaccine for Oropouche fever?
No, there is no vaccine against Oropouche fever. Mosquito protection is even more important.
Is the likelihood of Oropouche cases increasing in Europe?
The Oropouche virus infections detected so far in Italy are cases that were brought into the country from outside Europe. This means that Oropouche fever does not yet pose a major threat to Europe.
The WHO is also alarmed: “There is a risk of international spread of the disease,” warns the organization. After all, Cuba – a country with currently many cases of Oropouche fever – is a popular international tourist destination. The pathogen is also circulating increasingly in other Latin and South American countries. Europeans who travel to these countries could quickly become infected with the virus and – without knowing it – return home sick. The cases in Italy could not have been the last.