Oropouche Virus 

Oropouche virus is spread to people primarily by the bite of infected biting midges or mosquitos. The clinical presentation is sometimes mistaken for other viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, zika virus, and malaria. Most infected people will develop symptoms that end up reoccurring a few days or even weeks later. 

Symptoms

  • Incubation period is 3-10 days.
  • Disease starts with fever, severe headache, chills, myalgia, and arthralgia. 
  • Other signs and symptoms include:
    • ​Sensitivity to light 
    • Dizziness
    • Pain behind the eyes
    • Nausea and vomiting 
    • Rash
  • Symptoms can last less than a week (2-7 days)
  • 60% of patients can have symptoms reoccur days later or even weeks later 
  • Most people recover within several days to one month 
  • Fever than one in 20 will develop more serious diseases such as:
    • ​​Meningitis (Inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord)
    • Encephalitis or bleeding (inflammation of the brain)
  • ​Death from Oropouche is rare 

Causes and Transmission

Oropouche virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected biting midge (Culicoides paraensis), often called “no-see-ums.” It can also be spread by some mosquitoes. 

Prevention

The best way to protect yourself and your family from Oropouche virus is to use protective measures to protect yourself from biting insects.
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Treatment

See your doctor if you suspect Oropouche virus. There are no medicines or vaccines to treat Oropouche virus. Symptoms can be treated by getting rest, drinking fluids, and taking over-the-counter pain medicine like acetaminophen to reduce fever and pain. Medical care or hospitalization might be needed to help manage more severe symptoms.

Do not take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk of bleeding.  

Resources