Rise of Oropouche virus cases among Floridians travelling to Cuba prompts CDC response

    by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix

    August 27, 2024

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday that researchers are developing a detection plan to respond to a rise in cases of Oropouche virus, a mosquito-borne illness emerging among Floridians traveling to Cuba.

    Last week, the Florida Department of Health reported 10 cases of Oropouche virus in people who had traveled to Cuba, bringing the number of cases this year to 30, according to the agency’s latest arbovirus surveillance report. The department didn’t report any cases last year.

    Virtually all of the domestic cases of the virus have been detected in Florida, with one case emerging in New York, according to the CDC report that included data up to Aug. 16.

    There is no treatment for Oropuche, which humans can contract if bitten by small flies (Culicoides paraensis) and mosquitoes carrying the virus, but people should rest, hydrate, and take medicines such as Ibuprofen or aspirin to help with the symptoms, according to the CDC.

    The most common symptoms for U.S. patients have included fever, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, and joint stiffness. Others who contracted the virus reported diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting, according to the Tuesday report from the CDC.

    Miami-Dade has reported the highest number of Oropouche virus cases (14). However, Florida residents from Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Lee, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Polk, and Sarasota have also contracted the illness, according to the Florida arbovirus report.

    Although people typically recover from Oropouche virus without lasting damage, the rise in cases has raised alarm because it has led to fetal deaths and possible birth defects in Brazil, according to the CDC. In light of the specific potential harms to pregnant women, the CDC recommends that they reconsider non-essential travel to Cuba.

    Oropouche isn’t the only mosquito-borne illness Florida is dealing with. Hillsborough, Marion, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Walton counties are under mosquito-borne illness alerts because of cases of dengue and West Nile virus.

    Orange and Manatee counties are under advisories after the health department reported a local case of West Nile in the former and two cases of local dengue in the latter.

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