Florida health authorities confirmed on Tuesday that the total number of Oropouche fever cases has risen to 70 in 2024, all linked to recent travel to Cuba.
These international cases of Oropouche fever were reported in individuals who visited Cuba two weeks before developing symptoms, according to a statement released this Tuesday.
During the week of September 8 to 14, 2024, 22 new cases of Oropouche were reported, all associated with travelers returning from the Caribbean nation.
The entity issued a level 2 travel alert for this country, regarding the risk of disease transmission.
The counties that have reported cases include Miami-Dade, with the highest number of infections (41), followed by Hillsborough (11), Lee (4), Broward (3), Orange (2), and Palm Beach (2), coincidentally where the population of Cuban residents is largest.
Also in Pasco (2), Polk (2), Duval, Sarasota, and St. Lucie, infected individuals were reported.
Health authorities claim that in addition to this outbreak, they are also monitoring other arboviruses, such as the West Nile Virus (WNV), the eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), and the Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV).
Oropouche, a virus that has affected thousands in South American countries, started to spread in Cuba last year and is already present in all territories of the island.
The symptoms include fever, intense headache, myalgia, and, in some cases, skin rashes.
Although no cases of local transmission have been reported in Florida, the high rate of travel-related infections from Cuba has raised alarms in the state.
Cuba has also exported the Oropouche to the European continent, with confirmed cases in Italy, Spain, and other countries.
The Florida Department of Health urges citizens to take precautions, especially those planning to travel to endemic areas, and to protect themselves from mosquito and no-see-ums bites.
Cuban authorities claim that they do not have resources to implement fumigation campaigns that alleviate the health crisis caused by the simultaneous circulation of dengue and oropouche.
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