Brazil's health ministry reported today the world’s first deaths from the Oropouche virus, which resulted in the deaths of two women. The illness is transmitted by infected flies and mosquitoes.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, Oropouche virus outbreaks are currently occurring in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, and Peru. The Brazil health ministry reported 7,236 Oropouche cases in 2024, primarily from the states of Amazonas and Rondonia.

The CDC reports that symptoms of Oropouche virus infection usually start four to eight days after a bite. These symptoms, which last between three to six days, are similar to those of dengue and include fever, muscle aches, joint stiffness, headache, vomiting, nausea, chills, and light sensitivity. In severe cases, the infection can lead to life-threatening complications like meningitis.

According to the health ministry, Oropouche was first isolated in Brazil in 1960. While the majority of cases have been reported in Brazil's Amazon region, outbreaks and isolated cases have also been documented in other parts of Latin America.