Deadly Oropouche virus could have 'severe consequences' for pregnant women
An expert has issued a stark warning that the initial cases of the lethal Oropouche virus detected in the UK could pose "severe consequences" for expectant mums.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed three instances of oropouche virus linked to trips to Brazil. The illness, which resembles the flu, can cause symptoms such as fever, headaches, joint pain, muscle pain, chills, nausea and vomiting. Officials have urged anyone who becomes unwell with these symptoms after travelling to affected areas, including parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean, to seek urgent medical advice.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), before late 2023, the oropouche virus was mostly reported near the Amazon rainforest area. However, in 2024, locally transmitted cases of the disease were reported in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Guyana, Peru and the Dominican Republic.
Dr Enny Paixao, an associate professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, warns the virus should "not be underestimated", particularly for expectant mothers. It comes after the Oropouche virus was found in the UK for the first time after sweeping through Europe.
Last year, a woman heartbreakingly lost her baby in Pernambuco, Brazil, after contracting the Oropouche virus. Additionally, a second incident occurred in Acre where a newborn with birth defects caused by mother-to-child transmission sadly passed away after 47 days.
The World Health Organisation reports three further potential instances of mother-to-child transmission are under investigation in Pernambuco. The specialist warns these discoveries should "underscore the urgent need for further investigation, which should be considered a public health priority."
She told The Mirror: "The potential public health implications should not be underestimated. Although OROV infection is typically mild and self-limiting, previous outbreaks reported by PAHO and the Brazilian Ministry of Health have included fatalities. In Brazil, several confirmed or suspected cases of vertical transmission have also been documented, with severe consequences for the fetus.
"Since last year, samples from cases of microcephaly of unknown etiology have been tested for Oropouche virus, and some have tested positive. Last year, a documented case of vertical transmission of Oropouche virus was reported in the state of Pernambuco, resulting in fetal death.
"Subsequently, a second case was reported in Acre, in which a neonate born with congenital anomalies attributed to vertical transmission, including microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, agenesis of the corpus callosum, and joint malformations, died after 47 days. These are published in Lancet Infectious Disease.
"These findings underscore the urgent need for further investigation, which should be considered a public health priority.
"Pregnant women should be counselled on preventive measures, particularly the use of mosquito bite protection, as this not only reduces the risk of Oropouche virus infection but also protects against other mosquito borne diseases, including Zika, dengue, and chikungunya."
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