Brazil has recorded the world’s first deaths from the Oropouche virus, the country’s health ministry announced Thursday. Two women from Bahia, a state in northeast Brazil, succumbed to the illness, which is transmitted by infected flies and mosquitos.
The victims were under 30 years old and had no pre-existing health conditions, but exhibited severe symptoms similar to those of dengue fever, the ministry said in a statement.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes ongoing Oropouche outbreaks in parts of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, and Peru.
In 2024, Brazil has reported 7,236 cases of Oropouche infection, primarily in the states of Amazonas and Rondonia, according to the health ministry.
The CDC states that symptoms of Oropouche viral infection usually appear four to eight days after being bitten and typically last three to six days. These symptoms resemble dengue and include fever, muscle aches, stiff joints, headache, vomiting, nausea, chills, or light sensitivity. Severe cases can lead to life-threatening complications such as meningitis.
Oropouche virus was first identified in Brazil in 1960. Most cases have occurred in the Amazon region, but outbreaks and isolated cases have also been reported in other parts of Latin America.
