The Ministry of Health works with a scenario of “slow growth” of cases of Oropouche fever in Brazil, with almost total concentration in the North Region. In 2024, 3,161 cases of the disease were recorded, compared to 832 throughout last year.
Amazonas concentrates most of the cases (2,462), followed by Roraima (590); by Acre (68); Pará (23); and by Roraima (18). The most affected age groups are people aged between 30 and 39; between 20 and 29 years old; and between 40 and 49 years old.
The department is also investigating what it classified as “rumor” in the Northeast Region – at least one case of the disease that has not yet been confirmed. “We are analyzing and contacting the municipality”, explained the Secretary of Health and Environmental Surveillance, Ethel Maciel.
“We are attentive to changes that may be happening”, he added.
Understand
Oropouche fever is transmitted by mosquitoes, mainly Culicoides paraensis and by Culex quinquefasciatus, popularly known as maruim. The symptoms, very similar to those of dengue, last between two and seven days and include sudden onset fever, severe headache, back and lower back pain and joint pain.
In February, a team from the Ministry of Health was sent to Acre to review cases classified as dengue, but which, in fact, were Oropouche fever. In early January, the state declared a public health emergency due to an explosion in dengue cases.
