A health expert has delivered an alert that the first cases of the deadly Oropouche virus discovered in Britain could have ‘severe consequences’ for pregnant women. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed three cases of Oropouche virus connected to travel to Brazil.
The illness can trigger flu-like symptoms including fever, headaches, joint pain, muscle pain, chills, nausea and vomiting. Authorities have advised anyone who becomes unwell with such signs after travelling to affected areas, including parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean, to seek urgent medical advice.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), prior to late 2023, most reports of the Oropouche virus occurred near the Amazon rainforest. However, in 2024, local transmission cases emerged in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Guyana, Peru, and the Dominican Republic.
Dr Enny Paixao, an associate professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, now cautions that the virus must ‘not be underestimated’, especially for expectant mothers.
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Last year, a woman tragically lost her baby in Pernambuco, Brazil, following infection with the Oropouche virus. Reports also suggest a second case occurred in Acre, where an infant with birth abnormalities, caused by mother-to-child transmission, died after 47 days.
The World Health Organisation has reported three more potential cases of mother-to-child transmission under investigation in Pernambuco. A specialist warned that these findings should ‘underscore the urgent need for further investigation, which should be considered a public health priority’.
Dr Paixao told the Mirror: “The potential public health implications should not be underestimated. Although OROV infection is typically mild and self-limiting, previous outbreaks reported by PAHO and the Brazilian Ministry of Health have included fatalities. In Brazil, several confirmed or suspected cases of vertical transmission have also been documented, with severe consequences for the fetus.
“Since last year, samples from cases of microcephaly of unknown aetiology have been tested for Oropouche virus, and some have tested positive. Last year, a documented case of vertical transmission of Oropouche virus was reported in the state of Pernambuco, resulting in fetal death.
“Subsequently, a second case was reported in Acre, in which a neonate born with congenital anomalies attributed to vertical transmission, including microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, agenesis of the corpus callosum, and joint malformations, died after 47 days. These are published in Lancet Infectious Disease.
“These findings underscore the urgent need for further investigation, which should be considered a public health priority. Pregnant women should be counselled on preventive measures, particularly the use of mosquito bite protection, as this not only reduces the risk of Oropouche virus infection but also protects against other mosquito borne diseases, including Zika, dengue, and chikungunya.”