Oropouche fever arrives - first cases in Germany
Oropouche Fever is typically only found in South and Central America. However, recent cases have been confirmed in Europe, including two in Germany. These individuals had previously traveled to Cuba on vacation.
The first cases of Oropouche Fever (OF) have been registered in Germany. Two people from Saxony and Baden-Württemberg, who had both returned from Cuba, have been affected, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in its current "Epidemiological Bulletin".
"It is the first known case of OF in Germany," it states. Both individuals had been infected in Cuba and developed fever, headache, muscle, joint, and body aches during their stay abroad at the end of June and beginning of July. Tests in Germany confirmed typical antibodies against the Oropouche virus. The course of the disease was reportedly uncomplicated in both cases.
Outbreaks of Oropouche Fever have been increasing in South and Central America since the end of 2022, according to the RKI. Brazil has already registered over 7,000 laboratory-confirmed cases this year, including at least two deaths. The cases involved women from the inland of the state of Bahia in northeastern Brazil, both under 30 years old, with no underlying conditions but symptoms similar to severe dengue fever. Another death in the southern state of Santa Catarina is still under investigation.
Further spread in Germany unlikely
"Only travel-related cases have been reported in Europe so far," the RKI writes. "Italy and Spain have reported a small number of cases in recent weeks among travelers returning from Cuba and Brazil."
The virus is mainly transmitted by a specific type of mosquito, which is not present in Europe. No transmission has been observed in Europe so far, and it is unclear whether the virus could be transmitted by a European mosquito species. Based on current knowledge, further spread in Germany is very unlikely, the authority emphasizes.
"The OF is associated with a dengue-like symptomology," the RKI writes, noting a usually mild course. "The most common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle, and joint pain, and in rare cases, it can lead to aseptic meningitis or meningoencephalitis." The virus may also cause birth defects. Therefore, pregnant women may want to avoid traveling to current outbreak areas.
The Oropouche virus was first discovered in 1955 in Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, according to the Pan American Health Organization. It was first identified in Brazil in 1960 from a blood sample of a sloth, the health ministry reported. Since then, isolated cases and locally limited outbreaks, mainly in the Amazon region states, have been reported.
The European Union has not reported any local transmissions of Oropouche Fever, but recent cases in Germany have been linked to travel to Cuba. According to the Robert Koch Institute, Italy and Spain have also reported a few cases in travelers returning from Cuba and Brazil.
