The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States reported 21 cases of the Oropouche virus in travelers returning from Cuba as of August 16.
According to a weekly report released on August 27 by that health entity, 20 of the cases were detected in Florida and one was diagnosed in New York.
Most cases "had fever and other symptoms that disappeared without specific treatment."
The source added, however, that at least three people exhibited symptoms of disease reappearance once the patients seemed cured, a common feature that has been noted by the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) itself.
The CDC reported that they are working with state public health jurisdictions and international partners to enable rapid detection and surveillance of virus transmission, with the aim of guiding public health prevention measures.
Just over a week ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had already issued a level 2 alert, on a scale of 4, due to the increase in cases of the Oropouche virus in Cuba.
On their website, the CDC warned that "multiple cases of Oropouche have been reported in American and European travelers returning from a trip to Cuba, indicating that there is an ongoing risk."
U.S. authorities recommended that travelers take enhanced preventive measures to avoid contracting that arboviral disease, while advising pregnant women not to travel to the island unless it is unavoidable.
The alert came at a time when Cuba is facing an epidemiological crisis, exacerbated by the rapid spread of the disease throughout the country, following the confirmation of the first cases in Santiago de Cuba at the end of May.
In addition to the imported Oropouche virus cases in the United States, imported cases in Europe have been increasing in recent weeks through travelers mostly coming from Cuba.
At least twenty have already been detected, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Oropouche, which is often confused with dengue due to the similarity of its symptoms, can occur in people of any age. Symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle pain, joint stiffness, nausea, vomiting, chills, and sensitivity to light.
It is important for those who develop the disease to avoid taking aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, to reduce the risk of bleeding.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an epidemiological alert in early August, highlighting the severity of the situation in the Americas.
Cases of fatalities due to Oropouche have been reported, with the first recorded in the world at the end of July in Brazil.
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