The first case in all of Europe

This is the first time in Europe that someone has contracted Oropouche fever. The person was previously in the Caribbean. The virus is similar to dengue fever.

Negrar – Italy has once again reported a tropical disease. The country has already recorded most cases of tropical dengue in the past. The World Health Organization has already warned of the spread of the viral disease. Italy has now become the first European country to report its first case of Oropouche fever. A disease similar to dengue fever. However, scientists also see an advantage in this case.

Tropical viral disease in Italy: first case in all of Europe

“Oropouche fever is caused by the virus of the same name (OROV), which usually spreads in the Amazon region and is transmitted to humans through insect bites, especially mosquitoes and midges,” Federico Giovanni Gobbi explained to the Italian News Agency. The ANSA news agency reported this on June 14. He heads the Department of Infectious, Tropical and Microbiological Diseases at Sacro Curie Don Calabria (IRCCS), where the virus has been isolated to develop specific diagnostic tests. The sick person diagnosed with the virus had previously been to the Caribbean.

The aim is to investigate the possibility of spread by potential vectors of the virus such as mosquitoes and mosquitoes that are widespread in Italy. The case was immediately reported to the competent health authorities of the Veneto region and the state, as well as to international information and monitoring services. Oropouche fever is one of the most widespread arboviruses in South America. Since 1955, more than 500,000 cases have been diagnosed, although the number of unreported cases may be higher.

Tropical viral disease Oropouche fever: Its symptoms are similar to dengue fever

“Symptoms usually appear 3 to 8 days after the vector insect bite, and are very similar to those of other tropical viral fevers such as dengue, Zika or chikungunya,” explained Concetta Castelletti, Head of the Department of Virology and Emerging Pathogens at IRCCS. . These include:

• High temperature (more than 39 degrees)
• headache
• Pain in the eye socket area
• goosebumps
• nausea
• Vomiting
• General malaise
• Myalgia
• Joint pain
• Sensitivity to light
• Source: Italian News Agency (ANSA) and World Health Organization

According to the World Health Organization, infected people recover in most cases within seven days, while in isolated cases recovery may take weeks. Severe clinical symptoms are rare but can lead to aseptic meningitis. There is no specific treatment or vaccination for Oropouche fever. Patients are treated symptomatically and monitored medically La Repubblica mentioned. To date, no human-to-human transmission of the virus has been documented.

First case of Oropouche fever in Europe: Science comes to a positive conclusion

Experts loudly confirm La RepubblicaOropouche fever, like other arboviruses, represents a public health emergency that must be addressed in the face of climate change and increasing human mobility. Viruses that were previously found only in tropical regions are now endemic elsewhere. In the Mediterranean region, health facilities should be prepared for potential new pathogens.

By isolating the virus, IRCCS scientists have gained a decisive advantage, enabling improved diagnosis and research. “Timely diagnosis and ongoing monitoring, along with public health measures such as pest control, remain the most important tool for mitigating these risks,” the report said.

At the beginning of the year, there was a large outbreak of dengue fever in Brazil. (K)