Brazil records 5,514 cases of oropouche fever in 2025

Brazil registered 5.514 Casos de Febre de oropouche In the first 8 weeks of 2025, 64% more than in the same period of 2024, when 3,353 infections were reported.

Espírito Santo concentrates 84% ​​of cases, are 4,643 in the state. The data are from the Ministry of Health.

Rio de Janeiro (487) and Paraíba (287) complete the list of states with significant cases of cases. Minas Gerais (63), Amapá (28), Ceará (5), Federal District (2) and Roraima (1) also recorded punctual occurrences.

Understand the disease

O Arbovirus Orthobunyavirus It was identified for the first time in Brazil in 1960, from the blood sample of a bug-bug captured during the construction of the Belém-Brasília highway.

The transmission occurs mainly through the vector Culicoids paraensispopularly known as Maruim or pelvora mosquito. In the wild cycle, bruises, and nonhuman primates (and possibly wild birds and rodents) act as hosts. There are records of virus isolation in other insect species, such as CQUILLEVERSISE COQUILLEMEDIZE e Aedes serratus.

In the urban cycle, humans are the main hosts. In this scenario, the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatuspopularly known as pernilong and commonly found in urban environments, can also transmit the virus.

Symptoms

The symptoms of oropouche fever, according to the MS, are similar to those of dengue and include intense headache, muscle pain, nausea and diarrhea.

“In this sense, it is important that health surveillance professionals are able to differentiate these diseases through clinical, epidemiological and laboratory aspects and guide prevention and control actions.”says the organ.

The acute clinical picture, according to the ministry, evolves with sudden onset fever, headache (headache), myalgia (muscle pain) and arthralgia (joint pain). Other symptoms such as dizziness, retro-occupy pain, chills, photophobia, nausea and vomiting are also reported. Cases with central nervous system involvement (such as aseptic meningitis and meningoencephalitis), especially in immunocompromised patients, and with hemorrhagic manifestations (petechiae, epistaxis, gingivorragy) may occur.

Also according to the ministry, part of the patients (studies report up to 60%) may have recurrence, with manifestation of the same symptoms or only fever, headache and myalgia after one or two weeks from the initial manifestations. “Symptoms last from 2 to 7 days, with benign evolution and without sequelae, even in the most severe cases.”

DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis of oropouche fever is clinical, epidemiological and laboratory and all positive cases should be notified.

In addition to being of compulsory notification, the disease is also classified by the Ministry as immediate notification, “Due to the epidemic potential and the high mutation capacity and may become a threat to public health.”

TREATMENT

There is no specific treatment for oropouche fever. The guidance of Brazilian health authorities is that patients remain at rest, with symptomatic treatment and medical follow -up. In case of suspicious symptoms, MS asks the patient to seek medical help immediately and inform potential exposure to the disease.

PREVENTION

Among the recommendations cited by the folder to prevent oropouche fever are:

• Avoid contact with areas of occurrence and/or minimize exposure to vector bites;
• Wear clothes that cover most of your body and apply repellent to the exposed areas of the skin;
• Clean terrain and animal breeding sites;
• collect leaves and fruits that fall to the ground;
• Use thin mesh screens on doors and windows.

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This text was produced by the trainee Leo Garfinkel, under the supervision of editor Augusto Leite.