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Oropouche fever has caused the death of two people in Brazil, the first deaths ever recorded in the world due to this disease, the Ministry of Health of the South American country announced on Thursday.
“The victims are two women from the state of Bahia (northeast) under 30 years old, without comorbidities, but who presented (…) symptoms similar to a form of severe dengue fever”, the ministry indicated in a press release, adding that “until now, no death linked to the disease (had) been reported in the world scientific literature”.
What is Oropouche fever?
The authorities also say they are investigating another death, for which Oropouche fever is also suspected, in the state of Santa Catarina (south).
Transmitted by insects and mosquitoes, Oropouche fever was detected for the first time in Brazil in 1960, in the blood of a sloth. Since then, cases have been reported, mainly in the Amazon and other Latin American countries. According to the Brazilian government, at least 7,236 cases have been reported in the country.
The disease has symptoms similar to those of dengue fever, although milder. Brazilian health authorities are also investigating six possible cases of vertical transmission of the disease, that is, between a pregnant mother and her child.
These first deaths announced by Brazil coincide with a dengue epidemic that is raging in the country this year, the worst in its history, with at least 4,824 deaths confirmed since January 1.
