Concerns in Caribbean as Barbados confirms two cases of Oropouche Virus

Concerns are being raised in the Caribbean following the confirmation of two adult cases of the Oropouche Virus (OROV) in Barbados last week.

OROV is an emerging disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes and midges and that has been gaining attention from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other health agencies due to its potential spread in tropical regions like the Caribbean.

In announcing the cases, the health ministry in Barbados advised residents to adopt protective measures against mosquito and insect bites to prevent contracting OROV.

That was the first time the disease was detected in Barbados and already some Caribbean countries are scrambling to find preventative measures since there are similar environmental conditions and vector populations present in all the islands.

Media reports indicate that the Ministry of Health in St Lucia is expected to address the matter by outlining plans to address the risk of the disease among residents. Among plans on the agenda are surveillance measures, public education campaigns, and the distribution of resources to help communities combat mosquito and midge populations.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between January 1, and November 25, 2024, there have been 11,634 confirmed OROV cases, including two deaths, in the Region of the Americas. Caribbean countries with confirmed cases are Cuba (603), Guyana (2), and Barbados (2), and one imported case in the Cayman Islands.

“Based on available information, WHO assesses the overall public health risk posed by this virus to be high at the regional level and low at the global level,” it said in a statement on December 5.

The organization added that the ongoing outbreaks of OROV, “highlights the need to strengthen epidemiological and entomological surveillance and to reinforce preventive measures in the population.”

“This is crucial due to the expansion of the virus’s transmission area and the growing need to better understand the disease spectrum, including possible new transmission routes and new vectors that could affect both the general population and vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, their fetuses, and newborns,” it said further.

WHO pointed out that symptoms of OROV are similar to those of dengue, starting four to eight days ( up to between three to 12 days) after a bite from an infected mosquito or midge.

“The onset is sudden, usually with fever, intense headache, joint stiffness, pain, chills, and sometimes persistent nausea and vomiting, for up to seven days,” it said. “Up to 60% of cases have a relapse of symptoms after the fever stops. Most cases recover within seven days, however, in some patients, convalescence can take weeks. Severe clinical presentation is rare, but it may result in aseptic meningitis during the second week of the disease.”

What makes OROV frightening is the fact that there are no specific antiviral treatments or vaccines for it. Additionally, diagnosis is difficult because symptoms overlap with those of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya.

However, health authorities are advising that prevention is better than cure.

In its statement, the Ministry of Health in Barbados urged the public to take measures that will prevent mosquito and insect bites.

These measures include:

-Using insect screens and repellents.

-Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, especially from dusk to dawn when the vectors are most active.

-Eliminating areas of stagnant water around properties to prevent mosquito breeding.

It also urged the public to search their homes and discard any stagnant water that may accumulate in empty containers, particularly during and after periods of heavy rain.