The State Department of Health of Rio de Janeiro confirmed three deaths from Oropouche fever in the municipalities of Cachoeiras de Macacu, Paraty and Macaé. Viral disease, transmitted by the mosquito Maruimhas symptoms similar to dengue and chikungunya, such as fever, headache and muscle pain, which makes the diagnosis difficult.
According to Virologist Felipe Naveca, from Fiocruz Amazonia, in rarer cases, the infection can evolve into encephalitis or cause the death of the fetus in cases of vertical transmission.
There is no specific treatment for oropouche, and medical care focuses on symptom relief. Prevention is also different from dengue: as the vector is usually in periurban areas-which are between the urban area (the city) and the rural-and humid, it is recommended to use long and repellent clothing in risk regions.
Fiocruz had already warned of the disease advance in a study published in November 2024. The research pointed out the circulation of a new lineage of the virus, emerged between 2010 and 2014 in the Amazon region, through a genetic rearrangement between Brazilian strains and others circulating in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. The lineage can escape the immunity of previous infections and has greater replication capacity, according to scientists.
According to the researchers, the advancement of Oropouche fever, previously restricted to the north of the country, to the Southeast is a sign that environmental changes, such as deforestation and extreme weather events, have created favorable conditions for the expansion of previously considered regional diseases. For naveca, the scenario requires constant surveillance: “It is essential to be alert to detect emerging diseases such as Oropouche.”
This content was originally published in RJ confirms three deaths from Oropouche fever on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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