Brazil records the world’s first deaths from the Oropouche virus, a disease transmitted by infected flies and mosquitos, sparking concern among healthcare professionals.
- Brazil has recorded the world’s first Oropouche virus deaths, with two women from the state of Bahia dying from the illness spread by infected flies and mosquitoes.
- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website states that Oropouche outbreaks are currently known in parts of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, and Peru.
- The Brazil health ministry reported 7,236 cases of Oropouche infection in 2024, with the majority being reported in the states of Amazonas and Rondonia.
- Symptoms of Oropouche viral infection usually begin four to eight days after being bitten and can include fever, muscle aches, stiff joints, headache, vomiting, nausea, chills, or sensitivity to light.
- Severe cases of Oropouche infection can lead to life-threatening complications such as meningitis, with most cases reported in the Amazon region of Brazil but outbreaks and isolated cases also reported elsewhere in Latin America.
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Infectious Diseases, Public Health & Prevention