Brazil MOH updates guidelines for monitoring Oropouche
The Ministry of Health updated the guidelines for monitoring and controlling Oropouche in the country in a technical note published this week. The measure reinforces the actions to monitor arboviruses, according to the plan presented in September.
The document was prepared after the Colloquium on the Oropouche Emergency in Espírito Santo: Surveillance, Assistance and Research Actions, held between December 16 and 17, 2024. The event in the state of Espírito Santo brought together specialists, researchers and state and municipal managers to exchange experiences and review strategies to combat the disease.
In the note, the Ministry of Health updates the national epidemiological context, including the confirmation of deaths, guides surveillance on the investigation of suspected deaths, suggests case definition for assistance and surveillance and reinforces the content of other documentation on the subject, such as vertical transmission and entomovirological investigation.
The Ministry's guideline also emphasizes the importance of epidemiological investigation to identify infection sites and characterize the insect that transmits Oropouche, a disease that is subject to mandatory notification in Brazil due to its epidemic potential, and reinforces the importance of investigating deaths related to the disease.
Since 2023, Brazil has recorded an increase in the number of Oropouche cases, with 12,430 confirmed cases in 2024, this is up from 831 cases reported in 2023.
Transmission was identified in 22 states, except: Rio Grande do Norte, Goiás, Distrito Federal, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, which only had imported cases.
To date, four deaths associated with the virus have been confirmed, and another four remain under investigation. Five cases of vertical transmission have also been confirmed, four of which were fetal deaths and one due to congenital anomaly. 24 cases of vertical transmission remain under investigation, 20 of which were fetal deaths and four congenital anomalies.
Oropouche virus infection causes symptoms such as fever, prolonged and severe headache, muscle and joint pain. Dizziness, eye pain, chills, sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting may also occur.
In more severe cases, bleeding and problems with the nervous system may occur. Symptoms usually last from 2 to 7 days, but in some people they may be more intense. Although some symptoms are similar to those of dengue fever, treatment must be assessed on a case-by-case basis, as the disease is still being better understood.
Prevention and control are essential to minimize the risk of exposure to the Oropouche virus, especially in areas where the transmitter is present. Check out the main recommendations for individual protection, environmental management and additional precautions, with a focus on vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women:
Protective clothing: Wear pants, long-sleeved shirts, socks, and closed-toe shoes to cover exposed areas of the body.
Avoid exposure to the transmitter: reduce contact with sand flies, which are most active at dawn and late afternoon.
Use of screens and mosquito nets: install fine mesh screens (with a grammage of less than 1.5 mm) on windows and mosquito nets to block the passage of the vector.
Repellents: although their effectiveness against sand flies has not been proven, the use of repellents is recommended for protection against other insects, such as Culex and Aedes aegypti .
Environmental management: the main control measure is to maintain a clean environment, avoiding the accumulation of organic material, such as leaves and plant fruits.
Care for pregnant women: Pregnant women should avoid activities that involve the risk of exposure to the vector, such as cleaning yards.