CDC updates Oropouche travel advisory
This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) update their travel advisory for Oropouche fever in a number of countries in the Americas- where the following countries were issued a Level 1 advisory: Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil (other than Espírito Santo, which has a higher number of cases), Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama (other than Darién Province, which has a higher number of cases), Peru and Venezuela, which are reporting a low number of cases of Oropouche.
A Level 2 Travel Health Notice has been issued for Oropouche in parts of Brazil and Panama.
What Travelers Can Do to Protect Themselves and Others, according to the CDC:
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.
If travelers are pregnant, they should discuss travel plans, reasons for travel, steps to prevent bug bites, and potential risks with their healthcare provider.
While it is unknown if Oropouche can be spread by sex, travelers and their partners concerned about possibly spreading Oropouche through sex, can consider using condoms or not having sex during travel and for 6 weeks after returning from travel.
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. Learn how to seek medical care during travel.
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.
Male travelers who have symptoms or are diagnosed with Oropouche should review additional prevention recommendations related to sexual transmission and possible semen donation.
Oropouche is a disease caused by Oropouche virus. It is spread primarily through the bites of infected biting midges (small flies) and mosquitoes. There have been possible cases of Oropouche virus being passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
Oropouche virus has been found in semen. It is unknown if Oropouche can be spread through sex.
Symptoms of Oropouche include headache, fever, muscle aches, stiff joints, nausea, vomiting, chills, or sensitivity to light. Severe cases may result in neuroinvasive disease such as meningitis.
Symptoms typically start 3–10 days after being bitten and last 3–6 days. Most people recover without long-term effects. There is no specific treatment for Oropouche.