Deadly virus reported in three more countries with thousands of cases

The World Health Organisation says a deadly virus has been reported in three more countries and one territory with more deaths. Ecuador, Guyana, Panama and the Cayman Islands have all now reported confirmed Oropouche virus disease.

In addition, imported Oropouche cases have been reported from Canada, the United States of America and Europe. A total of 11,634 confirmed Oropouche cases, including two deaths, have been reported in the Americas across ten countries and one territory: Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Peru and the USA.

Based on available information, WHO assesses the overall public health risk posed by this virus to be high at the regional level. There have been 30 cases in Europe.

The disease is spread by midge bites by WHO fears it could start spreading in other ways unless the virus is controlled. Brazil has confirmed three cases of the disease being passed by a pregnant mother - with two unborn babies dying and one born with congenital defects.

The deaths of 15 unborn babies in Brazil are being investigated as well as five spontaneous miscarriages, and three cases of congenital anomalies. In September, Cuba confirmed a case of congenital anomaly with two further cases under investigation.

94 imported cases of Oropouche virus disease have been identified in the states of Florida (90 cases), California (one case), Colorado (one case), Kentucky (one case), and New York (one case). Three people had to be hospitalised.

30 imported cases of Oropouche have been identified in Germany (three cases), Spain (21 cases), and Italy (six cases); 20 of these cases had a history of travel to Cuba and one to Brazil, these cases are of the first registered in the region.

Oropouche virus has been found to circulate in Central and South America and the Caribbean. It can be transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of the Culicoides paraensis midge, found in forested areas and around water bodies, or certain Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes.

Primates, sloths, and perhaps birds are also hosts.

The disease symptoms are similar to dengue, starting four to eight days after the infective bite. The onset is sudden, usually with fever, intense headache, joint stiffness, pain, chills, and sometimes persistent nausea and vomiting, for up to seven days. Up to 60% of cases have a relapse of symptoms after the fever stops. Most cases recover within seven days, however, in some patients, convalescence can take weeks. Severe clinical presentation is rare, but it may result in aseptic meningitis during the second week of the disease.

There is no specific treatment or vaccine for Oropouche virus disease. Personal protection measures rely on the prevention of midge bites using mosquito nets, insect repellant devices, repellent-treated clothing and mosquito repellents. Chemical insecticides have been demonstrated to be effective in providing protection against bites.