Mysterious Oropouche virus is spreading: What you Should Know

a new infection is spreading in the US with almost 500,000 cases of the virus have been recorded since it was first discovered this is a small number for medical research so there isn't much knowledge about it however in July 2024 two young Brazilian women who were healthy died from the virus there are investigations ongoing to see if the virus can cause infections during pregnancy and lead to birth defects or still births Health officials are now warning doctors to watch out for this infection especially in Travelers who may be infected the virus can live in Birds primates and even sloths infectious disease expert Dr Isaac bogos explains that people usually get infected through mosquito bites and adds that there is no vaccine or treatment for this orao virus it's not just happening in the US it's mainly occurring in South America and the Caribbean there are 11 cases linked to travel on 23rd August 2024 the World Health organiz ation shared this concern saying that while the public health risk in the region is high to handle the situation the US Centers for Disease Control and prevention have advised keeping a close watch on Travelers coming back from areas affected by the virus there have been reports of orao fever in Travelers who visited the US Spain Italy and Germany after coming from Brazil and Cuba this shows the need for increased alertness and Readiness to control the possible spread of the virus first we will we'll discuss what the Oro virus is orao is a virus from the in 1955 Oro was later identified in Brazil in 1960 from a blood sample taken from a sloth since the 1960s it has caused intermittent outbreaks among humans in the Amazon region which spans nine South American countries this is why it's considered a reemerging virus having been present for decades in this endemic area next we will discuss how the oropo virus is transmitted the orao virus mainly spreads through the bite of tiny flies called biting midges or no these little guys can be found in several states in the US but that's not all some mosquitoes can also carry and spread the virus specifically mosquitoes like clex quinquefasciatus the same ones that spread West Nile and St Louis and sephtis in cities if someone infected with oropo gets bitten by a midge or mosquito that insect can pass the virus to other people so if you've traveled to a place where the virus is common or if you're infected it's crucial to avoid getting bitten to stop the virus from spreading in forested areas the virus Cycles between mosquitoes and animals like sloths certain monkeys and birds mosquitoes like cocalia venezuelensis and aedis seratus are suspected to play a role in this cycle usually clex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes brings the virus from the forest to the city once in an urban area biting midges are the main culprits for spreading the virus oropo virus can also infect people in Laboratories seven laboratory workers are known to have been accidentally infected with oropo virus through ingestion in the laboratory next we will discuss the symptoms and health effects oropo fever is a sudden illness that kicks off with a really high fever about 40° Centigrade it takes around 4 to 8 days to start showing symptoms after you get bitten by an infected mosquito the main symptom is a high fever but you might also experience chills heches muscle and joint pain dizziness light sensitivity nausea vomiting and stomach pain you could also get a rash that looks like rubella and feel pain behind your eyes the fever usually lasts about a week but sometimes symptoms can come back though not as intense in about 60% of cases you might feel tired and weak for up to a month afterward in more severe cases especially during big outbreaks the virus can affect the central nervous system this might cause a really bad headache dizziness stiff neck double vision and coordination problems some people might also show abnormal bleeding in up to 15% of cases in July 2024 the Brazilian Ministry of Health reported four cases of micral in newborns whose mothers had oropo fever there were also some fetal deaths that might be linked to the infection being passed from mother to baby next we will discuss the current spread and outbreaks of the virus Travelers heading to Latin America need to be extra cautious recently 19 cases of orao virus were reported in tourists returning to Europe Spain Italy and Germany have all seen infections in people who had recently visited Cuba and Brazil in June and July 2024 the European Center for disease prevention and control reported 15 cases in Spain five in Italy and two in Germany most of these cases came from Brazil but the virus has also been found in Bolivia Colombia and Peru if you're traveling to these areas keep an eye out for any symptoms and take steps to avoid mosquito and Midge bites make sure to stay updated on any travel advisories next we will discuss how oropo virus disease is treated unfortunately there aren't any antiviral medicines to treat oropo virus but don't worry there are ways to manage it at home you can use over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen to help with symptoms this can help help reduce your fever and relieve pain avoid taking aspirin or other medicine like ibuprofen unless your doctor specifically prescribed these can increase the risk of bleeding especially if you might have another infection like Deni which has similar symptoms if you're unsure or if symptoms worsen always consult your doctor for the best advice finally we will discuss prevention and safety measures first use insect repellants that are registered with the EP a look for ones with deat or other proven ingredients that keep bugs away when you're outside especially at night when insects are most active wear long pants long sleeved shirts and socks to cover your skin remove standing water from places like buckets bird baths and old tires and fill any low spots where water can collect keep mosquitoes out of your home by fixing holes in screens and keeping windows and doors closed ensure window screen have a fine mesh that keeps midges out use fine mesh netting over your sleeping area at night in areas where the virus is common if you're pregnant try to avoid traveling to places where orao virus is common thanks for watching our video on the Oro virus we hope you found it helpful and easy to understand it's important to stay informed to keep yourself and your loved ones safe if you found this video valuable make sure to subscribe to our channel so you don't miss out on our latest updates and insights into health related topics we're committed to bringing you the most accurate and up-to-date information to help you make informed decisions we'd love to hear from you whether you have questions thoughts or just want to share your own experiences drop a comment below and we'll do our best to respond and engage with you your feedback means a lot to us in the meantime stay safe and healthy and we look forward to seeing you in our next video take care