Italian authorities have identified the first European case of Oropouche fever in a patient who had recently traveled to Cuba. The Department of Infectious, Tropical, and Microbiological Diseases at Irccs Sacro Cuore Don Calabria in Negrar (Verona) reported the case to local health authorities in the Veneto region and to international surveillance and information services, according to a note published by the daily La Repubblica.
The patient, a 26-year-old Italian woman with no relevant medical history, visited Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, from May 12 to May 26, 2024, as part of a Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) trip, detailed the IO Foundation, which specializes in the study and control of infectious diseases globally.
Upon her return to Italy on May 26, the traveler exhibited concerning symptoms: diarrhea, general malaise, high fever, severe headache, nausea, joint pains, and retro-orbital pain, though she did not show any skin rash or exanthema.
Initially, dengue fever was suspected due to the observed leukopenia (lymphopenia), but rapid tests for dengue, as well as RT-PCR for dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses, came back negative. However, the patient reported that her family members in Cuba had similar symptoms, prompting doctors to conduct a specific RT-PCR for the Oropouche virus (OROV), which confirmed the infection.
The virus was isolated in the level 3 biosafety laboratory of the department, a crucial step for developing specific diagnostic tests and studies on the vector capacity (mosquitoes and midges) to carry the virus, which are also widespread in Italy.
Oropouche fever is caused by the Oropouche virus (OROV), discovered in 1955 in the blood of a forestry worker in Trinidad and Tobago. It is widely spread in the Amazon region, primarily transmitted to humans through bites from midges and mosquitoes, explained Federico Giovanni Gobbi, director of the Department of Infectious, Tropical, and Microbiological Diseases at Irccs Sacro Cuore Don Calabria in Negrar.
It is one of the most widespread arboviral diseases in South America, with over 500,000 diagnosed cases since 1955, although this figure is likely underestimated due to limited diagnostic resources in affected areas.
Recently, between late 2023 and 2024, outbreaks of Oropouche fever have been reported in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and alarmingly, also in Cuba. In the Caribbean island, cases have been reported in Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara, Mayabeque, and other provinces.
Oropouche Fever Outbreak: Key Information
Given the rising concern about Oropouche fever in Europe and its recent detection in a traveler from Cuba, here are some important questions and answers to provide a clearer picture of the situation.
What are the symptoms of Oropouche fever?
Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, joint pains, nausea, diarrhea, general malaise, and retro-orbital pain. Unlike dengue, it does not typically cause a skin rash.
How is Oropouche fever transmitted?
The virus is primarily transmitted to humans through the bites of midges and mosquitoes, which are also common in Italy.
Where has Oropouche fever been recently reported?
Recent outbreaks have been reported in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Cuba, with cases in Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara, and Mayabeque, among other provinces.