ONE HEALTH AND ARBOVIRUSES: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECTS OF OROPOUCHE VIRUS

Abstract

Oropouche fever is an emerging zoonotic arboviral disease of significant public health relevance, caused by the Oropouche orthobunyavirus and transmitted by Culicoides paraensis, a biting midge. The disease is endemic in tropical regions of Central America and in Brazil, particularly in the Amazon region, and is associated with both urban and sylvatic transmission cycles. This study aimed to describe the etiological and epidemiological aspects of the virus, the clinical features of the disease in animals and humans, and the relevance of the Oropouche virus within the One Health framework, as well as to provide reflections on health education. To this end, a literature review was conducted based on recent data from scientific articles published in the last two years, retrieved from the Google Scholar database, in order to ensure the reliability of the study. The disease is characterized by a short incubation period and clinical manifestations similar to other arboviral infections, such as dengue, which complicates differential diagnosis. In humans, common symptoms include acute fever, headache, and myalgia, whereas in animals the infection may be asymptomatic. In recent years, an expansion in the geographic distribution of the disease has been observed, including reports outside the Amazon region, highlighting its capacity for dissemination. The absence of specific treatment reinforces the need for preventive strategies, such as vector control and epidemiological surveillance. Thus, the Oropouche virus represents an increasing challenge, requiring integrated actions across human, animal, and environmental health for effective control.