Ministry of Health investigates cases of Oropouche fever in Acre
A team from the Ministry of Health is in the northern state of Acre this week to review cases reported as dengue fever which are in fact Oropouche fever according to Health and Environmental Surveillance Secretary Ethel Maciel.
Oropouche fever is also transmitted by mosquitoes, especially Culicoides paraensis and Culex quinquefasciatus. The symptoms, similar to those of dengue fever, last between two and seven days and include a sudden onset of fever, severe headache, back and lower back pain, and joint pain. Patients may also experience coughing, dizziness, pain behind the eyes, skin rashes, chills, photophobia, nausea, and vomiting.
Official recommendations include the use of mosquito nets, wearing long clothes that cover the arms and legs, installing screens on doors and windows, using repellent, and allowing municipal agents to spray homes with substances that inhibit the proliferation and circulation of mosquitoes.
“It should be noted that Oropouche fever was first described in the 1960s, but so far there have been no deaths associated with it. According to the Ministry of Health, there is no specific treatment or vaccine for Oropouche fever, so infected patients should remain at rest, with symptomatic treatment and medical follow-up,” the department reported in a statement.
