This week, the São Paulo government registered three more cases of Oropouche fever in the interior of the state, bringing the total to five since last week. All the cases occurred in the Vale do Ribeira, in the south of the state, and raised alarm bells about the increase in the disease in the state and in the country.
Here’s how this fever occurs, the best ways to prevent it and what to do if you have symptoms:
What is Oropouche fever?
Oropouche fever is a tropical disease caused by a virus of the Orthobunyavirus genus, transmitted by mosquitoes. Its symptoms include sudden onset fever, muscle and headaches, nausea and diarrhea; very similar to Dengue and Chikungunya, which can make diagnosis difficult.
The virus was first identified in Brazil in 1960. Since then, there have been outbreaks of Oropouche fever every year, especially in the Amazon region.
The figures for 2024, however, are well above expectations. To give you an idea, the Ministry of Health registered 835 cases in 2023, the vast majority in the northern region. By the beginning of July this year, more than 7,000 cases had already been identified in 16 states across the country.
Here in São Paulo, the records were in the cities of Cajati and Pariquera-Açu, just over 200km from the capital. All the patients progressed to a cure.
What to do if you have symptoms of Oropouche fever?
If you start to experience fever, pain and other symptoms of Oropouche, the first step is not to self-medicate and to seek medical attention. There is no specific treatment for the disease, but the professional will be able to treat the symptoms and will recommend plenty of rest.
How to prevent Oropouche?
There is still no specific vaccine against this fever. However, since transmission occurs through mosquito bites, it is possible to prevent it.
This Tuesday, the 6th, the Government of São Paulo released a podcast with recommendations to do so. First of all, avoid entering forests and places with a high incidence of mosquitoes. If this is unavoidable, wear long-sleeved clothes, preferably in light colors, and apply plenty of insect repellent to exposed areas.
If you live or are visiting an area where the disease occurs, use mosquito nets and screens when you sleep. Also, avoid clearing land or animal farms.
The recommendations apply to everyone, but especially to pregnant women, as the virus can be transmitted from mother to baby during childbirth or pregnancy.
