Italy has reported a case of Oropouche fever. The affected patient was diagnosed in Negrar in Veneto. For the first time in Europe, a person has fallen ill with the tropical Oropouche fever. The virus, similar to dengue fever, was detected in Veneto in a patient who had been in the Caribbean before entering Italy. This was reported by the Italian news agency Ansa.
„Oropouche fever is caused by the virus of the same name (OROV), which is usually found in the Amazon region and is transmitted to humans through insect bites, especially mosquitoes and midges,“ explained Federico Giovanni Gobbi, head of the Department of Infectious, Tropical, and Microbiological Diseases at the Sacro Cuore Don Calabria (IRCCS) to the news agency.
The health authorities of the Veneto region, as well as other national and international information and monitoring services, were immediately informed about the case. Now, the possibility of the virus spreading through potential vectors such as mosquitoes and midges is being investigated.
The symptoms of Oropouche fever are similar to those of other tropical viral fevers such as dengue, Zika, or chikungunya. They appear about three to eight days after an insect bite and can include high fever, headaches, eye pain, chills, nausea, vomiting, general malaise, as well as muscle and joint pain. Increased sensitivity to light is also possible.
Oropouche fever is one of the most widespread arboviral diseases in South America. Since 1955, over 500,000 cases have been diagnosed there. The term arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) refers to viruses that multiply in arthropods such as mosquitoes or ticks as well as in vertebrates (birds, mammals).
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that most patients recover within seven days. In rare cases, recovery can take weeks. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine available. Patients are treated symptomatically and medically monitored.
The detection of Oropouche fever in Italy is a concerning development. It highlights the importance of global health monitoring and surveillance to prevent the spread of tropical diseases to new regions. The collaboration between national and international health authorities is crucial in addressing and containing such outbreaks. It is essential for individuals traveling to regions where these diseases are endemic to take necessary precautions to protect themselves from insect bites and reduce the risk of infection.