What is Oropouche Virus Outbreak That Has Forced Canada To Issue Travel Advisory

Ontario: The Canadian government has issued a health advisory for international travelers due to an outbreak of the Oropouche virus, particularly in Cuba. This virus, transmitted by midges and mosquitoes, can cause symptoms such as fever and severe headaches. Pregnant travelers are advised to take extra precautions. At present, there have been no reported cases in Canada.

What is Oropouche Virus, Its Symptoms

Oropouche virus disease is an arboviral disease caused by the Oropouche virus (OROV), a segmented single-stranded RNA virus that is part of the genus Orthobunyavirus of the Peribunyaviridae family.  

World Health Organisation said that the virus has been found to circulate in Central and South America and the Caribbean. 

“OROV can be transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of the Culicoides paraensis midge, found in forested areas and around water bodies, or certain Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitos. It is suspected that viral circulation includes both epidemic and sylvatic cycles. In the sylvatic cycle, primates, sloths, and perhaps birds are the vertebrate hosts, although a definitive arthropod vector has not been identified. In the epidemic cycle, humans are the amplifying host and OROV is transmitted primarily through the bite of the Culicoides paraensis midge. To date, there is no evidence of human-to-human OROV transmission,” the UN health body said.  

List of Countries Where Travellers Should Take Precaution 

The Oropouche virus was first discovered in a forest worker from Vega de Oropouche, Trinidad. As of last month, over 8,000 confirmed cases of Oropouche fever—a potentially deadly zoonotic disease—have been reported in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, with the virus now also spreading to Cuba for the first time. Since June, the Canadian government has been advising travelers to the Americas to take necessary health precautions against this virus, which is transmitted by small flies known as midges and mosquitoes. As of September 3, a Level 1 travel advisory has been issued for Colombia, Cuba, Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru.