Photo: Daniel Romero-Alvarez
Oropouche fever in the AmericasDiscovering the mystery of the virus behind an emerging zoonosis
Carlos C. Goller
, (North Carolina State University)
Daniel Romero-Alvarez
, and (Faculty of Health Sciences. Universidad Internacional SEK (UISEK), Quito, Ecuador)
Luis E. Escobar
(Virginia Tech)
How does vegetation loss increase the emergence and transmission of the Oropouche virus?
The Oropouche virus has caused outbreaks in South America, raising concern about its transmission and emphasizing the need for an increased understanding of the ecology of this disease. The Oropouche virus is transmitted between people mainly through infected midges (small flies). This virus can cause human disease that ranges from mild symptoms to life-threatening conditions. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine against the Oropouche virus. Recent cases suggest possible new vectors and transmission routes that cause concern. Let’s explore what is known about the Oropouche virus, its vectors, and the connections to deforestation, highlighting how modeling efforts can help explain its spread and predict potential emergence.
Learning objectives
- Describe the health implications of Oropouche Virus (OROV) infection and its sylvatic (forest) and urban life cycle.
- Explain the use of modeling to predict risk areas for OROV transmission across the tropics of Latin America.
- Analyze data to identify areas where OROV may emerge.
- Evaluate how well models are supported by surveillance data of cases of unknown febrile syndromes likely attributed to OROV.