Mosquito Bourne Illnesses In Europe Raising Concerns

Clear Facts

• The Oropouche virus (OROV), a mosquito-borne illness similar to the Zika virus, has been reported in Europe, raising concerns among health officials.
• The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert on Aug. 1, stressing the need to strengthen surveillance and clinical diagnosis of OROV infection.
• The Oropouche virus, often mistaken for other arboviruses like Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and malaria, could strain South America’s healthcare system if the current outbreak expands further.

The increase in the number of Oropouche virus (OROV) cases in Europe has put health professionals on high alert. As we neared the end of July, 19 incidents had been reported, with 12 in Spain, five in Italy, and two in Germany, as per the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

This disease is typically transmitted through bites from mosquitoes and midges, particularly the Culicoides paraensis species, according to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Oropouche virus first emerged in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955 and has since seen “limited circulation” in certain parts of South America, particularly in forested regions. Birds and three-toed sloths have been identified as “natural reservoirs” for the virus, acting as hosts for the disease.

In relation to the transmission of the virus, one leading medical professor confirmed that “The virus doesn’t spread from person to person.”

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an epidemiological alert on August 1, appealing to countries to “strengthen surveillance and implement laboratory diagnosis for the identification and characterization of cases … potentially associated with OROV infection.”

By July’s end, confirmed cases of Oropouche virus in five countries had reached 8,078, with Bolivia reporting 356 cases, Brazil 7,284, including two fatalities, Colombia 74, Cuba 74, and Peru 290, according to the data provided by PAHO.

“Experts fear that if the current outbreak of Oropouche fever expands further, it could overwhelm South America’s already stretched health care system,” according to an article published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases on Aug. 8.

The PAHO’s alert also noted cases of the virus in Brazil that seems to have been transmitted from pregnant women to their fetuses. “These cases are under investigation,” the CDC stated on its website, while confirming that it is collaborating with the PAHO and other international partners to evaluate potential risks the virus may pose during pregnancy.

“There is some risk to the fetus in terms of birth defects,” a senior medical analyst confirmed.

The Oropouche virus, classified as an arbovirus, is often mistaken for similar viruses, such as Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and malaria, according to the CDC. Symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, muscle aches, stiff joints, and chills. Some individuals may develop a rash that starts on the torso and spreads to other parts of the body.

Symptoms usually onset within four to eight days of being bitten and persist for three to six days. However, in severe cases, patients may develop meningitis, encephalitis, or other “neuroinvasive” diseases. For these patients, symptoms can include intense headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, lethargy, stiff neck, and involuntary eye movements.

“Around 4% of patients develop [neurologic symptoms] after the first febrile illness,” a medical expert noted.

Most people who contract Oropouche recover on their own without any lasting effects, according to the CDC. However, “there are no vaccines for prevention and no treatments,” the medical expert cautioned.

Preventive measures, including the use of repellents, clothing that covers legs and arms, and fine mesh mosquito nets, are the best means of avoiding bites from midges and mosquitoes. The PAHO has advised people to take preventive measures and to take extra precautions during outbreaks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women.

Supportive care, including rest, fluids, and medications to reduce fever and alleviate pain can help manage symptoms. The PAHO also recommended that “Patients who develop more severe symptoms should be hospitalized for close observation and supportive treatment.”

The CDC reported that there have been “very few” deaths from Oropouche.

“Clinicians in these areas where importation has occurred may not be familiar with this infection and need to be alert to its possibility,” warned an infectious disease expert at a leading health institution. This warning serves as a crucial reminder of the vigilance required in these uncertain times.

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