Greece warns of diseases brought to Europe by tourists from Cuba

The European Centre for Infection Control (ECDC) has sounded the alarm about the possible spread of Oropouche fever cases to Europe from tourists who travelled to Cuba and were bitten by insects carrying the virus.

Scientists note that confirmed cases of Oropouche fever have been identified in Europe, including three in Italy and the same number in Spain. The patients had symptoms of the virus include fever, aching joints and severe headachesOne of them had to be hospitalized.

As mentioned in the ECDC weekly report, the first case was reported in Italy in June in a traveller returning from Cuba who had to be hospitalised for four days. However, two more cases were subsequently diagnosed in travellers returning to Italy from the same destination, but in these cases the symptoms were milder.

Three cases were reported in Spain in July, all with the same symptoms – arthralgia, myalgia, rash and fever. Today, all are healthy.

What is Oropouche fever, caused by the Oropouche virus? European health authorities sound alarm. Oropouche disease is said to be a zoonosis caused by a virus oropoucheensetransmitted through insect bites. Tourists traveling from Europe to Cuba may be at risk of infection, although rthe claim is significantly reduced if all measures recommended by the authorities are taken.

The main The virus is carried by the insect Culicoides paraensiswhich is widespread in the Americas but not found in Europe. According to authorities, European species of midges and mosquitoes do not transmit the oropoucheense virusThis is why, to this day, the disease has never spread beyond the American continent and not a single case of the disease has ever been registered in Europe. Wild birds and mammals are also considered natural hosts of the virus..

Cases in Europe, according to the ECDC, can only be linked to travel and travellers visiting areas at risk of transmission of the disease.

To date Cases of Oropouche fever have been reported in South American countries – Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia, as well as in the Caribbean countries (Panama, Trinidad and Tobago). As ECDC scientists report, Greece is one of the countries where Cuba is visited by between 1,000 and 5,000 people per year.so it is possible that a case of the disease may also be detected in our country. Personal protective measures include simple and well-known instructions for protection against mosquito and midge bites.

The disease caused by the Oropouche virus can manifest itself in humans as an acute febrile illness (with headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle and joint pain), while more serious symptoms (hemorrhages and meningitis) cannot be ruled out.

For now Human-to-human transmission of the virus has not been recorded..

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