BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Ministry of Health has confirmed two adult cases of the Oropouche virus disease (OROV) in Barbados.
OROV, which circulates in Central and South America and the Caribbean, can be transmitted to humans through bites from midges also known as sand flies and certain Culex mosquitoes, both commonly found in bushy areas and stagnant water.
Symptoms of the Oropouche virus disease are similar to other mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue.
They may begin four to eight days after being bitten by an infected insect and include sudden onset of fever, headache, chills, joint pain and stiffness, and sometimes nausea and vomiting.
While most individuals recover within seven days, some may remain ill for weeks.
There is no specific treatment for OROV, but infected persons can be treated for their symptoms.
The Ministry has advised the public to adopt protective measures against mosquito and insect bites to prevent contracting OROV. These measures include using insect screens and repellent; wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, especially from dusk to dawn when the vectors are most active and eliminating pools of stagnant water.
The Ministry says it remains committed to safeguarding public health and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
