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Bright sunshine and swaying palm trees on an exotic beach in South America sound like the perfect vacation for many. But for some tourists, the summer adventure has brought home more than just fond memories.
This summer, 19 Europeans brought home an unexpected souvenir: an infection with the Oropouche virus, a tropical pathogen that had been brought to Spain, Italy, and Germany as an uninvited guest.
The affected holidaymakers had recently visited Cuba and Brazil, where an outbreak of the virus has prompted health authorities to issue warnings about the disease. Symptoms of the virus include fever, rash, headaches and muscle aches.
In the worst cases, the disease can be fatal. In Brazil, two young women died last month after being infected with the virus. These were the first recorded deaths worldwide.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warns that Oropouche could pose a particular risk to pregnant women, as the virus can potentially cause stillbirths and birth defects.
Although most cases of the virus have been reported in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru have also been affected. The infection is also widespread in Cuba.
The Oropouche virus belongs to the arbovirus family, which also includes the Zika virus and dengue fever. It is transmitted by small, stinging insects normally found in the rainforest.
- source: dagens.de/picture: pixabay.com
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