The CDC issued a level 2 travel notice regarding Oropouche virus for people planning to travel to Cuba. It had previously issued a level 1 notice for travel to South America.
On Aug 27, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that more than 20 US travelers returning from Cuba have been identified as having Oropouche virus.
The Oropouche virus was once confined to the Amazon region but is now being spread by mosquitos in Cuba and linked to human deaths for the first time.
There have been more than 8,000 confirmed human infections in the Americas so far this year, most of them in Brazil, but Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Cuba have also been affected.
This is causing a stir in international health community.
What are the alerts for Oropouche virus?
Cases of Oropouche infection have been identified in people who have travelled to the United States, Spain, Italy and Germany from Brazil and Cuba.
Here are the latest announcements:
- Pan American Health Organization upgraded its risk level for Oropouche from moderate to high.
- World Health Organization stated that the public-health risk posed by the virus is high at the regional level and low at the global level.
- CDC has advised close surveillance of people returning from affected areas. Thet also issued a level 2 travel notice for people planning to travel to Cuba. It had previously issued a level 1 notice for travel to South America.
There are no vaccines or medicines to treat the disease.
What is Oropouche?
Oropouche differs from other better-known vector-borne viruses like dengue, Zika, yellow fever or Chikungunya because it is typically transmitted to humans by midges (small flies) rather than by mosquitoes.
What raises concern is the finding of local transmission in Cuba for the first time and imported cases in Europe and in the United States. The worry is that any infected individual can generate a local epidemic.
Travelers to affected areas should take steps to prevent bug bites.
The symptoms are similar to those of other arboviruses such as dengue:
- fever
- headache
- muscle or joint pain
- pain behind the eyes
- vomiting and
- nausea.
To diagnosis the virus you need to have a molecular laboratory diagnosis.
A few cases may evolve into more severe forms, with neurological or hemorrhagic manifestations, but most cases are mild and resolve after seven or eight days.
While there are no vaccines or medicines to treat the disease, the CDC recommends supportive care such as rest, fluids and pain management medications, or close observation and hospitalization for those who develop more severe symptoms.
What travelers can so to protect themselves
Travelers to affected areas should take steps to prevent bug bites during travel to protect themselves from infection.
They should also prevent bug bites for 3 weeks after travel to avoid possibly spreading the virus to others in the U.S.
Travelers who develop high fever, headache, muscle aches, stiff joints, nausea, vomiting, chills, or sensitivity to light during or within 2 weeks after travel should:
- Seek medical care immediately and tell their healthcare provider when and where they traveled.
- Not take aspirin or other NSAIDS (e.g., ibuprofen) to reduce the risk of bleeding.
- Continue to prevent bug bites during the first week of illness to avoid further spread in areas where mosquitoes or biting midges are active.
Do you need Vaccines to travel to Brazil or Peru?
Yes, the CDC recommends the following vaccines if you are traveling to Brazil.
Some are recommended however some may be required. The vaccinations include Chickenpox, TDAP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis), Flu (Influenza), Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Polio, Shingles, COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Measles, Rabies, Typhoid, and Yellow Fever.
Where can I go to get travel vaccines?
Call CNS Occupational Medicine, your local health clinic that can provide pre-travel advice, vaccines, and medicines. Learn more about Travel Vaccinations.
We currently offer vaccines for:
- Hepatitis B
- Yellow Fever
- TD (Tetanus, diphtheria)
- PPD (tuberculosis)
- Shingles
- Polio
- COVID-19 vaccines
For more information, contact us at 800.551.9816 or info@cnsoccmed.com.
