Spread primarily through bites from mosquito-like insects known as midges and known to cause a fever illness that in some cases can quickly turn deadly, the Oropouche virus has been spreading in certain South American and Caribbean destinations and in some cases traveling as far north as Florida.
Over 8,000 cases of the virus have been reported since the start of 2024 while Florida has already seen 30 cases among returning residents.
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The bulk of the cases (7,284 identified) have been reported in Brazil and, as a result, several governments have issued travel advisories reminding citizens to take care to prevent bug bites when traveling there.
Symptoms of the Oropouche virus include a high fever, muscle pains, headache and chills that in certain cases can become severe enough to turn into a medical emergency. The disease is also commonly referred to as "sloth fever."
Here is what you need to know about the spreading Oropouche virus
"Parts of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru are reporting cases of Oropouche," the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) wrote in a note back in February. "Illness can occur in people of any age and is often mistaken for dengue (a much more common tropical disease)."
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Canada, which sees large numbers of its citizens go to Cuba during the winter months, issued an advisory saying that cases have been on the rise. As there is some evidence that the virus could spread from a mother to an unborn baby, anyone who is pregnant is advised to take extra care to prevent bug bites. Symptoms usually show up three to eight days after being bitten. There is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside of pregnancy.
"While it has been detected in the Americas before, the number of cases is now higher than expected, and cases are being reported in some areas of Brazil, Bolivia, and in Cuba where they haven't been before," the note reads. "There have been several travel-related cases of OVD reported internationally, the majority of which were in travelers returning from Cuba."
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Traveling to these destinations? Take care to prevent bug bites
While a history of strained relations between the two countries make it more challenging for Americans to travel to Cuba, all of the Oropouche cases in Florida and the one in New York were identified in those who had recently returned from the country.
While the Brazil cases are higher in number, Cuba has been more concerning to authorities given its sudden spread and unexpected appearance (Oropouche is native to South America).
The Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba provinces, home to a number of all-inclusive resorts, are where the confirmed cases have been located. So far, there have been no incidents of serious illness, but authorities are ringing the alarm about the potential to spread and grow into a pandemic.
"Outbreaks are periodically reported in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago," writes the World Health Organization. "There is a risk of the disease spreading internationally as Cuba is an international tourist destination and the putative vector is widely distributed in the Americas region."
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