• About
  • Contact Us
The Filipino American Post
Advertisement
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • PH News
    • World News
    Senate presidency shaping up as a 3-way race among Escudero, Sotto & Marcos

    Senate presidency shaping up as a 3-way race among Escudero, Sotto & Marcos

    Go or no go? Impeachment vs. VP Sara hangs in the balance

    Go or no go? Impeachment vs. VP Sara hangs in the balance

    Marcos Cabinet shakeup has few surprises

    Marcos Cabinet shakeup has few surprises

    Ex-solon sent back to PH by East Timor to face raps

    Ex-solon sent back to PH by East Timor to face raps

    Lawyers debate after Court of Appeals invalidates De Lima’s acquittal

    Palace asks Roque to return after arrest warrant is issued

  • Community
  • EVENTS
  • Opinion
    • All
    • Column
    • Legal
    NaFFAA Honors Pope Francis a.k.a. Lolo Kiko

    NaFFAA Honors Pope Francis a.k.a. Lolo Kiko

    In this column, we will aim to raise awareness about osteoporosis, highlighting the importance of early screening and timely diagnosis, with a special focus on older women in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

    In this column, we will aim to raise awareness about osteoporosis, highlighting the importance of early screening and timely diagnosis, with a special focus on older women in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

    Berberine for diabetes

    The two important Medicare enrollment period will end on Mach 31, 2025. Additionally, be sure not to miss the application open period for home energy assistance.

    The two important Medicare enrollment period will end on Mach 31, 2025. Additionally, be sure not to miss the application open period for home energy assistance.

    Pinapalakas ng California ang Bayad na Mga Benepisyo sa Pag-iwan ng Pamilya at Kapansanan upang Magtala ng Mga Antas para sa Mga Bagong Claim na Naihain noong 2025

    Pinapalakas ng California ang Bayad na Mga Benepisyo sa Pag-iwan ng Pamilya at Kapansanan upang Magtala ng Mga Antas para sa Mga Bagong Claim na Naihain noong 2025

    In recent years, rising inflation has made it harder for many seniors to pay their expenses. This month, we’ll look at programs that can help with the cost of groceries and health care. If your income and resources are limited, you may qualify for assistance from federal and/or state programs.

    In recent years, rising inflation has made it harder for many seniors to pay their expenses. This month, we’ll look at programs that can help with the cost of groceries and health care. If your income and resources are limited, you may qualify for assistance from federal and/or state programs.

    Vital medical tips

    Ginagalang ng California ang Kapangyarihan ng Iyong Boto

    Ginagalang ng California ang Kapangyarihan ng Iyong Boto

    De-stressing

  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Arts & Culture
    • Business
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
    It’s a new day for health care and technology

    It’s a new day for health care and technology

    The Colorful Pahiyas Festival

    The Colorful Pahiyas Festival

    The Magical Guyabano

    The Magical Guyabano

    What Your Moles Say About You

    What Your Moles Say About You

    Flores De Mayo: HONORING MAMA MARY

    Flores De Mayo: HONORING MAMA MARY

  • Online Newspaper
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • PH News
    • World News
    Senate presidency shaping up as a 3-way race among Escudero, Sotto & Marcos

    Senate presidency shaping up as a 3-way race among Escudero, Sotto & Marcos

    Go or no go? Impeachment vs. VP Sara hangs in the balance

    Go or no go? Impeachment vs. VP Sara hangs in the balance

    Marcos Cabinet shakeup has few surprises

    Marcos Cabinet shakeup has few surprises

    Ex-solon sent back to PH by East Timor to face raps

    Ex-solon sent back to PH by East Timor to face raps

    Lawyers debate after Court of Appeals invalidates De Lima’s acquittal

    Palace asks Roque to return after arrest warrant is issued

  • Community
  • EVENTS
  • Opinion
    • All
    • Column
    • Legal
    NaFFAA Honors Pope Francis a.k.a. Lolo Kiko

    NaFFAA Honors Pope Francis a.k.a. Lolo Kiko

    In this column, we will aim to raise awareness about osteoporosis, highlighting the importance of early screening and timely diagnosis, with a special focus on older women in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

    In this column, we will aim to raise awareness about osteoporosis, highlighting the importance of early screening and timely diagnosis, with a special focus on older women in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

    Berberine for diabetes

    The two important Medicare enrollment period will end on Mach 31, 2025. Additionally, be sure not to miss the application open period for home energy assistance.

    The two important Medicare enrollment period will end on Mach 31, 2025. Additionally, be sure not to miss the application open period for home energy assistance.

    Pinapalakas ng California ang Bayad na Mga Benepisyo sa Pag-iwan ng Pamilya at Kapansanan upang Magtala ng Mga Antas para sa Mga Bagong Claim na Naihain noong 2025

    Pinapalakas ng California ang Bayad na Mga Benepisyo sa Pag-iwan ng Pamilya at Kapansanan upang Magtala ng Mga Antas para sa Mga Bagong Claim na Naihain noong 2025

    In recent years, rising inflation has made it harder for many seniors to pay their expenses. This month, we’ll look at programs that can help with the cost of groceries and health care. If your income and resources are limited, you may qualify for assistance from federal and/or state programs.

    In recent years, rising inflation has made it harder for many seniors to pay their expenses. This month, we’ll look at programs that can help with the cost of groceries and health care. If your income and resources are limited, you may qualify for assistance from federal and/or state programs.

    Vital medical tips

    Ginagalang ng California ang Kapangyarihan ng Iyong Boto

    Ginagalang ng California ang Kapangyarihan ng Iyong Boto

    De-stressing

  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Arts & Culture
    • Business
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
    It’s a new day for health care and technology

    It’s a new day for health care and technology

    The Colorful Pahiyas Festival

    The Colorful Pahiyas Festival

    The Magical Guyabano

    The Magical Guyabano

    What Your Moles Say About You

    What Your Moles Say About You

    Flores De Mayo: HONORING MAMA MARY

    Flores De Mayo: HONORING MAMA MARY

  • Online Newspaper
No Result
View All Result
The Filipino American Post
No Result
View All Result
Home Community

The next big public health scare: Oropouche virus

UCSF infectious diseases specialist Dr. Peter Chin-Hong discusses a little-known virus, which is rapidly gaining ground in the number of identified infections

by Sunita Sohrabji
January 10, 2025
in Community
0
The next big public health scare: Oropouche virus

Midges, small biting flies, are the primary transmitters of the Oropouche virus Photo: CDC

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The little-known Oropouche virus is causing concern among public health experts. More than 10,000 cases have been identified this year, mainly in South America and the Caribbean. The virus is spreading to the US: 94 cases have been identified for 2023-2024, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In two of the cases, Oropouche had infected the brain, causing either encephalitis or meningitis. All of the 94 cases were associated with travel, according to the CDC.

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, discussed the emerging threat of Oropouche in an interview with Ethnic Media Services.

How did the Oropouche virus emerge? When and where was it first found?

Oropouche virus was first described in the village of Oropouche, in the eastern part of the Caribbean island of Trinidad (my home country!). The first outbreak in a population was also described in 1961 in Brazil, and throughout the years has caused outbreaks in many countries in Central, South America and the Caribbean such as Panama, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, French Guiana, Ecuador and Haiti.

The Oropouche virus is getting a lot of attention this year because the geographic reach and intensity of the outbreaks are increasing: Brazil and neighboring countries have reported over 10,000 cases this year alone, and Cuba has reported its first case. In addition, travelers from endemic countries to the United States have been diagnosed with infection.

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong discusses the Oropouche virus

Is Oropouche related to Covid or any other known virus?

It has no relationship to COVID. However it is related to some viruses that can cause brain infections in humans that we can see in the US like the California encephalitis virus and the La Crosse virus.

How is the virus transmitted?

It is transmitted from biting small insects called midges (a small biting fly), also known as “no see-ums” because these insects are so small. Infected midges bite humans and transmit disease that way. These insects may also bite monkeys, sloths and birds and so sustain the transmission cycle but some of these details are not fully worked out as yet. Mosquitoes can also be implicated in the transmission cycle though the midges are the primary vector. Given the possibility of birth defects and fetal demise (see below), we also worry specifically about pregnant people.

The virus can also be transmitted from mother to child. It is also likely that sexual transmission can occur as the virus was found in an infected person’s semen.

What are the symptoms of Oropouche, and how long does the illness last?

After being bitten by an infected midge, humans develop disease in about 3-10 days. Most people (60%) develop symptoms such as the abrupt onset of fever with chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain and a spotty rash all over the body. These are the most common symptoms. Some people also experience “pink eye” or conjunctivitis and gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Bleeding of the gums, stool and other areas have also been described in a small proportion of patients. The illness usually lasts about 5 days.

One of the interesting clinical features of Oropouche virus is that a large proportion of patients (70%) may have recurrent symptoms after recovery.  This does not represent new infection and is likely similar to COVID rebound. 

One of the other clinical features that is being followed very closely is fetal death and microcephaly (a small infant head size, like what we saw in Zika) also has not been reported as commonly yet.

Is Oropouche fatal?

Oropouche infection is rarely fatal. Of about 8000 cases summarized recently by the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by the CDC, 2 deaths were reported.

Are there treatments for Oropouche currently available? Will existing vaccines for Covid/flu/RSV also protect against Oropouche?

Unfortunately no drugs are available for Oropouche virus disease. Treatment is generally supportive like giving fluids. No existing vaccines work.

At the moment, Oropouche seems to be confined to South America. Do you expect to see a lot of cases in the US next year? Will it emerge in pandemic-like proportions?

I think we will continue to see more cases in the US mainly from travelers returning from endemic countries in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. I don’t think we will see pandemic like proportions of disease but that doesn’t mean that a lot of people will not get infected and be taken out of the workforce and schools in affected countries.

We have the species of that midge in warmer states in the US east of the Mississippi but it will unlikely so far to mimic the exact rural ecological scenario where this disease can be endemic here.

What advice would you give to our readers to protect themselves from Oropouche, particularly if they are traveling to South America?

Some of the interventions we use to prevent mosquito bites should be used as the minimum safety measures (insect repellant, mosquito nets, screens, cover skin using long sleeves and pants when feasible, don’t sleep near to where midges breed like decaying banana trees and cocoa stumps in rural areas).

However, it is not known how well these interventions work against midges because they are so small and more research is needed to determine this as well as how well our mosquito repellants work. However, at a minimum these interventions will likely lower the risk of infection.

Another way travelers could be helpful when returning to the US from affected countries in South and Central America is to bring up this possibility with clinicians. Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya can look very similarly and many clinicians in the US do not know about Oropouche virus.

If someone is pregnant with infection, the CDC recommends serial ultrasounds every four weeks given the possibility of birth defects and fetal demise. The CDC has also recommended that male travelers returning from affected countries consider using condoms or abstain from sex for 6 weeks if they have been infected.

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

The next presidency will shape Gen Z’s education

Next Post

Trump says he will deport families with American children

Related Posts

What happens if you help an undocumented immigrant?
Community

Despite higher Covid risk, pregnant women are now ineligible for vaccine

June 6, 2025
What happens if you help an undocumented immigrant?
Community

Over 200 ralliers demand Newsom fund domestic violence victims

June 6, 2025
What happens if you help an undocumented immigrant?
Community

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2025 Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards

June 6, 2025
Next Post
Trump says he will deport families with American children

Trump says he will deport families with American children

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Recent News

Senate presidency shaping up as a 3-way race among Escudero, Sotto & Marcos
News

Senate presidency shaping up as a 3-way race among Escudero, Sotto & Marcos

by Beting Lagyo Dolor
June 6, 2025
0

With the next Congress set to start soon, all eyes will be on the Senate which will convene as an...

Go or no go? Impeachment vs. VP Sara hangs in the balance

Go or no go? Impeachment vs. VP Sara hangs in the balance

June 6, 2025
Marcos Cabinet shakeup has few surprises

Marcos Cabinet shakeup has few surprises

June 6, 2025
Ex-solon sent back to PH by East Timor to face raps

Ex-solon sent back to PH by East Timor to face raps

June 6, 2025
What happens if you help an undocumented immigrant?

Despite higher Covid risk, pregnant women are now ineligible for vaccine

June 6, 2025
The Filipino American Post

© 2025
THE FILIPINO AMERICAN POST

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • PH News
    • World News
  • COMMUNITY
  • EVENTS
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • LIFESTYLE
    • Business
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
    • Arts & Culture
  • ONLINE NEWSPAPER

© 2025
THE FILIPINO AMERICAN POST