Oropouche: CDC updates travel notice for Cuba
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated a travel notice for the country of Cuba due to an outbreak of Oropouche fever. The travel notice is now Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions, which states Practice enhanced precautions for this destination. The Travel Health Notice describes additional precautions or defines a specific population at risk.
There is a Level 1-Practice Usual Precautions for the remaining countries reporting cases- Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana and Peru.
Official reports from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) state Cuba has seen 555 cases to date.
Multiple cases of Oropouche have recently been reported in U.S. and European travelers returning from travel to Cuba indicating there is ongoing risk.
In the U.S., 91 travel associated Oropouche cases have been reported from 5 states, with Florida reporting 87 of these cases. All are linked to travel from Cuba.
In Europe in June and July 2024, 19 imported cases of Oropouche virus disease were reported for the first time in EU countries: Spain (12), Italy (5), and Germany (2). Eighteen of the cases had a travel history to Cuba and one to Brazil.
In total this year, more than 10,000 Oropouche cases have been reported in the Western Hemisphere.
Cases and consequences of vertical transmission of Oropouche virus infection have been reported in Brazil and Cuba and are currently under investigation. Brazil reported 13 fetal deaths, three spontaneous miscarriages, and four cases of congenital anomalies (3) and, in September, Cuba confirmed a case of congenital anomaly.
Oropouche is a disease caused by Oropouche virus. It is spread primarily through the bites of infected biting midges (small flies) and mosquitoes (Culicoides paraensis and Culex quinquefasciatus). Oropouche virus has been found in semen. It is unknown if Oropouche can be spread through sex.
Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube
Travelers to affected areas should:
Take steps to prevent bug bites.
Consider using condoms or not having sex during travel and for 6 weeks after returning from travel.
All travelers to Cuba should take steps to prevent bug bites during travel to protect themselves from infection.
Pregnant women should reconsider non-essential travel to Cuba. If travel is unavoidable, these travelers should strictly follow Oropouche prevention recommendations.
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.