The intense monitoring of the Oropouche virus by the European Center for Infection Control (ECDC), for the possible transfer of cases to Europe, by tourists who traveled to Cuba and were bitten by insects carrying the virus, caused cases identified in Italy and Spain.

Specifically, as ECDC states in its weekly press release, Italy has reported three confirmed cases of the virus in travelers returning from Cuba. The first case was recorded in Italy in June in a traveler returning from Cuba. In fact, the man had to be hospitalized for four days.

Three cases were also detected in Spain in July and all presented the same symptoms.

However, the ECDC points out that the risk of infection for EU/EEA citizens traveling to Cuba or America he is shortprovided that they follow the instructions of the public health authorities for the use of personal protective measures against gnat and mosquito bites.

Also, the possibility of secondary transmission of the Oropouche virus in Europe it is considered very low points out the European Center because of the absence of known competent bodies usually found in America.

What is Oropouche virus

Oropouche virus disease is a zoonotic disease caused by Oropouche virus (OROV) (orthomount oropoucheense virus). Human outbreaks of Oropouche virus disease have been reported in many countries in South America (eg, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia) and the Caribbean (eg, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago).

In humans, Oropouche virus disease can present as an acute febrile illness (with headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle and joint pain), occasionally with more severe symptoms (eg, hemorrhages and meningitis).