Oropouche fever has symptoms identical to dengue and chikungunya, warns epidemiologist

One of the main challenges in combating oropouche fever is the similarity of its symptoms to those of dengue and chikungunya. “The symptoms are the same,” says Márcia São Pedro, director of the Bahia Epidemiological Surveillance Agency, highlighting that this can lead to misdiagnosis if there is no adequate laboratory investigation.

Oropouche fever, a disease transmitted by the maruim mosquito, has caused concern in Bahia due to the significant increase in cases. Márcia revealed, in an interview with CNN, that the state, until then not considered endemic for the disease, had already registered 839 cases as of July 25.

Diagnosis and prevention

The director emphasizes the importance of active surveillance and differential diagnosis. “It is necessary to make a differential diagnosis, to be suspicious, to perform an examination, because treatment is based on the symptoms, not a specific treatment,” she explains.

Preventive measures include keeping land clean, especially in areas near banana and cocoa plantations, where the mosquito is most common. São Pedro recommends the use of insect repellents and long clothing, especially for pregnant women and children, due to studies that suggest a possible vertical transmission in animals.

Severity of the disease

The epidemiologist warns about the rapid progression of the disease in severe cases. “These two deaths presented a sudden onset of fever, headache, body pain, and arterial pain. Soon after, in a short space of time, it became more complicated,” she reports, mentioning that the patients developed bleeding, intense abdominal pain, and hypotension.

Bahia has been investing in training healthcare teams since 2023, when it acquired specific kits for testing Oropouche and other viruses. Correctly identifying cases is crucial to directing health promotion and prevention actions for the population, according to the specialist.