Oropouche fever arrives - first cases in Germany
Oropouche Fever is typically only found in South and Central America. However, recent cases have been detected in Europe, and now two Germans have been diagnosed with the virus after returning from vacation in Cuba.
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 OF patients in Germany," it states. Both had been infected in Cuba and developed fever, headache, muscle, joint, and body aches during their stay abroad at the end of June and the 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. Both cases involved women from the inland of the state of Bahia in northeastern Brazil, who were under 30, had no underlying conditions, but showed 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-associated cases have been known in Europe so far," the RKI writes. "Italy and Spain reported a small number of cases in recent weeks among travelers returning from Cuba and Brazil."
The virus is mainly transmitted by specific biting midges, which are not present in Europe, it continues. So far, no transmission has been observed in Europe, 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 accompanied by a dengue-like symptomology," the RKI writes, referring to 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." It may also potentially 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. In Brazil, it was first identified from a blood sample of a sloth in 1960, the Ministry of Health reports. Since then, isolated cases and locally limited outbreaks, mainly in the Amazon region states, have been reported.
Despite the rise of Oropouche Fever cases in South and Central America, particularly in Brazil, the German authorities believe that further spread in Germany is extremely unlikely due to the absence of the virus's primary transmitter in Europe. Consequently, the importance of education about the symptoms and potential risks associated with Oropouche Fever becomes crucial to prevent misdiagnosis and ensure proper care for individuals returning from infected regions.
