Colombia is not exempt from the epidemiological alert issued by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) regarding the spread of the Oropouche virus, which causes disease with symptoms similar to dengue.
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As of August 1, PAHO has reported 8,078 cases of this disease, distributed in Brazil, where 7,284 cases (90% of the total) have been recorded, including two deaths; in Bolivia, where there are 356 cases; in Peru, with 290 infections; as well as in Colombia and Cuba, which each have 74 confirmed infections.
The 74 cases reported in Colombia are concentrated, according to the National Institute of Health (INS), in three departments: Amazonas, which has 70 infections (94% of the cases) and Caquetá and Meta, with one case each.
The Oropouche virus, according to PAHO, is a disease transmitted by vectors that spreads among humans through the bite of an insect known as jejen (Culicoides paraensis), as well as the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus.
The symptoms produced by this disease include sudden fever, headache, joint stiffness, aches and discomfort and, in some cases, photophobia (sensitivity to light), diplopia (double vision), nausea, and persistent vomiting. They can last from five to seven days.
And in rare cases, severe cases may occur with aseptic meningitis (which affects the meninges of the central nervous system). Full recovery from the infection can take several weeks.
What draws attention to the recent outbreak of this virus is that until this year there were no records in the scientific literature of deaths resulting from its infection. However, on July 25 of this year, two people were reported dead due to Oropouche in Brazil.
To address the outbreak, PAHO advises affected countries to strengthen surveillance and implement vector control measures and risk communication to help prevent further increases in cases.
Likewise, they recommend that people living in warm areas or with mosquito presence protect their homes with fine-mesh mosquito nets on doors and windows, as well as overhead nets on beds and resting places; wear clothing that covers legs and arms, especially in homes where someone is sick; as well as apply repellents containing DEET, IR3535, or Icaridin.
In fact, because jejenes are much smaller than mosquitoes, common nets do not provide the same level of protection against bites, which is why the use of repellents is recommended.
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