Mystery fever claims lives in Brazil, doctors baffled
6:14 PM EDT, July 27, 2024
Two young, healthy women without any comorbidities died in Bahia, one of the states in Brazil, from a severe form of fever. The disease, resembling dengue, puzzles doctors. Until now, no deaths have been reported in connection with such a syndrome of ailments.
For the first time, doctors have noted a fatal outcome of a viral infection known since the 1950s. Oropouche fever, caused by viruses spread by blood-sucking midges Culicoides paraensis, was first identified among feverish forest workers in Trinidad.
After the first outbreak, with about 11,000 infections recorded in 1961, Oropouche fever occurred infrequently and was localized to specific states. There were no fatal cases. The disease, whose symptoms included elevated temperature, loss of appetite, vomiting, headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, and chills, ended in full recovery.
The Department of Health in the Brazilian state of Bahia has now announced that the situation has changed dramatically. The death of two 30-year-old women is linked solely to Oropouche fever, according to experts.
Mysterious deaths in Brazil. This fever was curable until now
According to the Brazilian state portal g1.globo.com, the first death was recorded in the south of the country on June 17. Last Monday, July 22, the second death was recorded. The women were admitted to the hospital due to high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lower limb pain, eye socket pain, muscle pain, and weakness.
Symptoms progressed to more severe ones. "This caught our attention," said infectious disease specialist Antônio Bandeira. According to the expert, the state faces serious problems.
There is no cure and no way to prevent Oropouche fever infection. Treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms.
The Bahia Health Ministry has reported monitoring cases and possible deaths caused by Oropouche. An investigation into the deaths is currently underway.
Six cases of mother-to-fetus transmission are also being investigated. In two cases, spontaneous miscarriages occurred, and in three cases, congenital defects such as microcephaly were found.
