Oropouche virus disease in the Americas

Original publication date: June 17, 2024

Updated: June 5, 2025

Current situation

There are outbreaks of Oropouche virus disease (OVD) happening in the Americas. While this virus has been found in the region before, there are now more cases than usual, and some areas are seeing cases for the first time. Some countries have reported travel-related cases, with most reported in people coming back from Cuba.

This travel health notice is applied to: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru.

About Oropouche virus disease

OVD is a disease caused by the Oropouche virus. It spreads to people through bites from an infected small fly called a midge (sometimes called no-see-ums) or possibly some types of mosquitos. The mosquitoes are most active at night, while the midges are most active during the afternoon.

There is currently not enough information to know whether Oropouche virus can be spread through sexual contact.

There are no vaccines to prevent OVD.

Symptoms usually start 3-8 days after being bitten by an infected midge or mosquito. The most common symptoms include:

• chills
• sudden fever
• severe headache
• muscle and joint pain

Other symptoms may include:

• rash
• nausea
• dizziness
• vomiting
• sensitivity to light
• pain behind the eyes

Symptoms usually last up to 7 days. The illness may return again a few days to weeks later. 

Most people recover from OVD without long-term problems. However, in rare cases, it can lead to serious illness, such as:

• meningitis (inflammation of the membranes around the brain)
• encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
• hemorrhage (heavy bleeding)

There is no specific treatment for OVD. Medical care focuses on managing the symptoms and helping people recover.

Recommendations

Before your trip

Talk to a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic preferably about 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations. Even if your travel date is coming up soon, it's still worthwhile to make an appointment.

Pregnant women and pregnant people or those planning to become pregnant should discuss the possible risks of travelling to areas with Oropouche virus with their healthcare provider. The healthcare provider may advise you to avoid nonessential travel to areas experiencing an OVD outbreak. This is because there are concerns that the Oropouche virus could be passed from a pregnant person to their unborn baby, which might lead to serious problems like stillbirth or issues with the baby's head and brain development.

Check the Travel Advice and Advisories page for your destination.

Travel advice and advisories by destination

Sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to stay connected with the Government of Canada in case of an emergency abroad or an emergency at home.

Registration of Canadians Abroad

During your trip

The best way to prevent OVD when travelling is to protect yourself from biting midges and mosquitos at all times.

• Always use an approved insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin. For best results, read and follow the directions on the label.
• Stay in places that can keep insects out. This includes rooms with closed windows and air conditioning. Biting midges are very small and can get through most window screens.
• Use insecticide-treated mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors (day or night) or in buildings that are not fully enclosed.
• Wear:
  
  • loose, light-coloured clothing made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
  • long pants and tucked-in long-sleeved shirts
  • closed-toe shoes or boots
  • a hat

Seek medical care if you feel sick and develop symptoms similar to those caused by OVD.

Learn more:

Tips for healthy travel
Personal insect repellents
Insect bite and pest prevention
If you become sick or injured while travelling outside Canada or after your return

After your trip

If you develop symptoms of OVD after your return to Canada, consult your health care provider. Tell them where you’ve been traveling.

Fever and other symptoms of OVD can be similar to those of many other infections, and you can’t always tell them apart without lab tests. One of these infections is malaria, so it's important to let your health care provider know if you’ve travelled to an area where malaria is common.

Information for health care professionals 

Healthcare providers in Canada should consider OVD in their differential diagnoses for individuals with suggestive symptoms and recent travel history to an affected area. Pregnant patients with compatible symptoms should be evaluated for all arthropod-associated diseases, such as OVD, malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.

Healthcare providers should contact their local public health laboratory to discuss testing pathways.

There are a few case reports of fetal harm associated with vertical transmission of the Oropouche virus (OROV) from mother to fetus. However, the frequency of transmission, the likelihood of associated harm and the impact of factors such as timing of infection during pregnancy have not been established. Sexual transmission has been documented in other viruses, such as Zika, however, further research is required to determine if sexual transmission may be possible with OROV. Close follow-up with an obstetrician and an infectious disease specialist is advisable for pregnant individuals who have been exposed to OROV.

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) has developed a position statement on the prevention and management of Oropouche virus in pregnancy. They advise healthcare providers to adopt a precautionary approach and counsel pregnant patients to avoid nonessential travel to areas currently experiencing an OROV outbreak.

SOGC Position Statement: The Prevention and Management of Oropouche Virus in Pregnancy

The Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel (CATMAT) has developed a statement on measures to prevent arthropod bites.

Statement on Personal Protective Measures to Prevent Arthropod Bites