Key facts Oropouche virus disease is a febrile illness caused by the Oropouche virus The virus is primarily spread to humans through the bites of infected biting midges, and possibly some mosquitoes The disease is mostly found in South America and the Caribbean There was an explosion of the disease in 2024, emerging in new countries That outbreak saw the first documented deaths from the disease as well as possible complications in pregnant women. There are no specific treatments or vaccines Overview Oropouche virus disease, also known as Oropouche fever, is caused by the Oropouche virus (OROV). It can cause fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, chills, nausea, vomiting, and rash. Most individuals recover on their own, but the disease can cause severe symptoms in some cases. The virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected insect, usually biting midges but also possibly by mosquitoes – it is an arthropod-borne virus or arbovirus.…