Information was released by the State Department of Health
The State Department of Health confirmed on Friday (26) three cases of Oropouche Fever, also known as Maruim Fever, in Santa Catarina. The cases were registered in the municipality of Botuverá, in the Médio Vale do Itajaí. The tests were sent by the State to a private laboratory that detected the presence of the virus in the samples, on April 25th.
Oropouche fever, also known as ‘maruim fever’, is causing an outbreak in the North of Brazil, mainly in Amazonas. According to data from the Ministry of Health, last year 832 people were diagnosed with the disease. This year, the number of cases has already exceeded three thousand.
In Jaraguá do Sul and the region, there are still no confirmed cases of the disease, but according to Jaraguá’s Health Secretary, Alceu Moretti, there is a risk.
“This topic is really worrying. The maruim is ‘out of control’ and something really needs to be done to control it. And hopefully this disease doesn’t come, because if we have a disease transmitted by maruim with the infestation we have in the region, it will be completely out of control,” he says.
Oropouche Fever is transmitted mainly by mosquitoes. After biting an infected person or animal, the virus remains in the mosquito’s blood for a few days. When this mosquito bites another healthy person, it can transmit the virus to them.
There are two types of disease transmission cycles:
• Wild Cycle: In this cycle, animals such as sloths and monkeys are the hosts of the virus. Some types of mosquitoes, such as Coquilletti diavenezuelensis and Aedes serratus, can also carry the virus. The Culicoides paraenses mosquito, known as maruim or sandfly, is considered the main transmitter in this cycle.
• Urban Cycle: In this cycle, humans are the main hosts of the virus. The Culicoides paraenses mosquito is also the main vector. The Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito, commonly found in urban environments, can occasionally transmit the virus as well.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of Oropouche Fever are similar to those of dengue and chikungunya: headache, muscle pain, joint pain, nausea and diarrhea. In this sense, it is important that professionals in the area of health surveillance are able to differentiate these diseases through clinical, epidemiological and laboratory aspects and guide prevention and control actions.
DIAGNOSIS
The diagnosis of Oropouche Fever is clinical, epidemiological and laboratory. Every case diagnosed with OROV infection must be reported. FO is part of the list of compulsory notification diseases, classified among immediately notifiable diseases, due to its epidemic potential and high capacity for mutation, which can become a threat to public health.
TREATMENT
There is no specific treatment. Patients must remain at rest, with symptomatic treatment and medical monitoring. It is recommended to use repellent, wear closed clothing, avoid areas where the sea bream is present, and remove possible breeding sites such as standing water.
