Already are 12 positive cases for Oropouche fever at the Holy Spirit. The circulation of the virus in Espírito Santo was confirmed on Tuesday (23), when the state health department (Sesa-Es), at the time, announced 8 cases of the disease.
Of the total, the majority were identified in Colatina: 6, Vitória: 2, Sooretama: 2, Sooretama: 1 and São Gabriel da Palha: 1. The Undersecretary of Health Surveillance, Orlei Cardoso, reported that the disease is not lethal until the time. Furthermore, it presents symptoms very similar to those of dengue.
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“It is a disease that is not lethal, so far, and has symptoms very similar to those of dengue – fever, body pain and joint pain. Laboratory diagnosis is essential for effective monitoring of cases, as well as municipal epidemiological surveillance actions to monitor the situation”he highlighted.
Since the confirmation of positive cases of Oropouche Fever, several doubts have arisen. Among them, how the disease is transmitted, what the symptoms are and the health risks.
Dengue and Oropouche Fever: differences and similarities
Both diseases are caused by an arbovirus and transmitted by mosquitoes. However, the vectors are different: Aedes aegypti, which transmits dengue, zyka and chikungunya, and the popularly known as “maruim” or “powder mosquito”.
The clinical manifestations are quite similar. Look:
– Sudden onset fever;
– Headache (headache);
– Myalgia (muscle pain);
– Arthralgia (joint pain).
– Dizziness;
– Retro-ocular pain;
– Chills;
– Photophobia;
– Nausea;
– Vomiting.
Acute cases of OROV evolve with sudden onset fever, headache, myalgia (muscle pain) and arthralgia (joint pain). Other symptoms such as dizziness, retro-ocular pain, chills, photophobia, nausea and vomiting are also reported.
Cases involving the central nervous system (for example, aseptic meningitis and meningoencephalitis), especially in immunocompromised patients, and with hemorrhagic manifestations (petechiae, epistaxis, gingivorragia) may occur.
Another point that differs from dengue is the biphasic cycle of the disease. This is because most patients may experience recurrence, with manifestation of the same symptoms or just fever, headache and myalgia after 1 to 2 weeks from the initial manifestations.
Symptoms last from 2 to 7 days, with a benign evolution and no sequelae, even in the most severe cases. There are no reports of deaths associated with OROV infection.
Vector bites tend to cause a lot of discomfort and allergic reactions. There is no specific treatment for the disease. Patients must remain at rest, with symptomatic treatment and medical monitoring.
Technical note and guidance for municipalities in Espírito Santo
According to Orlei, Sesa is already advising health professionals to stay alert.
“It is worth remembering that there can be co-infection, that is, the patient can be infected by more than one virus, such as dengue fever and Oropuche Fever at the same time. We even know that last year 16 cases of people were identified who tested positive for Dengue1 and Dengue2 at once”.
The secretariat, through a Technical Note, sent to all health regions in the state provides guidance, mainly, regarding clinical management.
“The guidance is that when collecting material from a suspected or positive case of dengue fever, Oropuche Fever is also evaluated. To this end, it is essential to forward these samples to Lacen. RT-PCR is the only one capable of efficiently identifying the disease”.
Prevention
The maruim lives in urban and rural areas. Unlike Aedes aegypti, it develops in organic matter present, for example, in mangrove and vegetation regions. Therefore, the larva does not need water, but rather mud and wet, rotting leaves.
Keeping environments dry and clean, using repellents, pants and long-sleeved shirts help keep mosquitoes away.
READ ALSO: Oropouche Fever: 8 cases of the disease are confirmed in ES; see symptoms
