SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 27th Aug. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The General Directorate of Public Health of the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) has been informed by the Ministry of Health of three new imported cases of the ‘Oropuche’ virus in the Canary Islands.
Specifically, they include a 36-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman residing in Tenerife, as well as a 52-year-old man living in Gran Canaria. All three began to exhibit symptoms consistent with the infection after returning from their respective trips to Cuba.
In light of presenting symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, and joint pain, and with tests conducted in the Canary Islands for dengue, zika, and chikungunya returning negative, the two samples collected from the Tenerife patients at the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital, along with one from the Gran Canaria patient at the Doctor Negrín University Hospital, were sent to the National Centre for Microbiology. This organisation has recently confirmed the three positive cases.
All three patients have shown good improvement following the administration of the recommended medication, and none have required hospital admission, as stated by the Ministry.
Furthermore, there are presently three other cases under investigation, one of which has been ongoing for several weeks.
FIRST CASE
These three confirmed cases add to an earlier report this month regarding a 49-year-old man living in Gran Canaria who began exhibiting symptoms following a trip to Cuba.
In this instance, the patient also experienced a positive recovery without the need for hospitalisation, and the epidemiological episode is now deemed closed.
The Health Alerts and Emergencies Coordination Centre (CCAES) has noted several cases in other autonomous communities, including Galicia, Andalusia, the Basque Country, and Madrid in recent weeks.
The General Directorate of Public Health of the SCS reminds travellers of the recommendations issued by the Ministry of Health for those visiting areas where outbreaks of the Oropouche virus have been reported in humans (Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, Panama, or Trinidad and Tobago). This is particularly vital for pregnant women, those planning to conceive, and travellers with compromised immune systems or chronic illnesses, as these groups are at higher risk.
Key recommendations include using mosquito repellents containing one of the following active ingredients: DEET (Diethyltoluamide), picaridin, Citriodiol, or IR3535. Individuals at greater risk of bites, such as forestry or agricultural workers, should wear clothing that covers exposed skin, alongside the use of repellents. For children under two months, physical barriers such as mosquito nets should be used to cover cots and prams, and repellents should be avoided. For children over two months, physical barriers should also be prioritised, and if repellents are used, it is advisable to consult the manufacturer’s instructions.
It is suggested to wear light-coloured clothing that covers most of the body, particularly during peak mosquito activity times, to avoid vibrant colours, especially yellow which attracts mosquitoes, and to refrain from using strong perfumes.
The Department also advises installing fine mesh mosquito nets on doors and windows, whether treated with insecticides or not, which is crucial if the accommodation lacks adequate air conditioning. Windows should remain closed in the absence of properly maintained mosquito nets, and within domestic settings, it is recommended to use insecticides that kill mosquitoes as an additional protective measure.
In regions where an outbreak of this virus has been declared, it is also advisable to avoid outdoor activities during periods of heightened vector activity (at dawn and dusk).
