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Italy reported its first case of the mosquito-borne disease Oropouche fever on June 15. It is also the first case found in continental Europe. Latin America and the Caribbean have already seen outbreaks this year. (Read this also | Dengue and mosquito-borne diseases cases on the rise in Europe, EU health agency warns,
The patient found in Italy had recently returned from a trip to the Caribbean, Italian newspaper Il Messaggero quoted public health officials as saying.
Oropoch virus disease is spread by infected mosquitoes and mosquito bites. Although the disease has long been spreading in Central and South America and the Caribbean, some countries have seen a sharp increase in diagnosed cases this year. Brazil has recorded more than 5,500 cases so far in 2024, while about 840 cases will be recorded in 2023.
The disease is also spreading to countries that have never previously reported cases of Oropouche fever. On June 11, the WHO reported its first outbreak in Cuba, with about 70 confirmed cases. “This is the first detection of the disease in the country; therefore, the population is likely highly susceptible and there is significant risk of additional cases being detected,” the report said.
dengue like symptoms
Oropouche fever is caused by the Oropouche virus, which is often spread by the bite of the Culicoides parensis midge. There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the disease.
The disease has symptoms similar to dengue and usually begins four to eight days after the bite. The onset is sudden and symptoms usually include fever, headache, aches, chills, stiff joints, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. Most patients recover in about seven days. Severe cases are rare, according to the WHO.
There is no specific vaccine or antiviral treatment available for this disease.
Climate may play a role
Oropouche fever is a disease that has been little studied, say the authors of a paper published in the journal Infectious Diseases of Poverty in May 2023. As a result, the disease’s epidemic potential and areas of potential spread remain “undiscovered.”
Although most cases of Oropouche fever so far have been associated with tropical climate conditions, the authors said it is difficult to draw precise conclusions due to the lack of available data. For example, some outbreaks have occurred outside the tropical conditions that are usually associated with the incidence of infection.
Although much is still unclear about the virus and its spread, the authors also said that vegetation loss and deforestation appear to be linked to disease outbreaks.
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