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UK Health Security Agency

Oropouche virus Uncovered 

Oropouche virus (OROV) is a single stranded RNA virus classified as HG3 by ACDP, belonging to the Orthobunyavirus genus. It is an arthropod-borne virus, with the main vector of transmission being Culicoides paraensis, a biting midge1. First identified in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955 and subsequently considered epidemic in the Amazon basin, OROV is known to be associated with febrile illness and a range of other symptoms including fever, severe headaches and joint pains1.

Transmission electron microscopy image of Oropouche virus, NCPV 1811021v.

 

Growing Outbreaks and Global Spread

Since 2023, OROV has spread beyond the Amazon basin across South America and into the Caribbean. Recently, a large outbreak in Cuba and imported cases in Europe2, highlighted the virus’s ability to establish transmission outside its typical ecological niche. Moreover, 3 cases of imported OROV disease were detected for the first time in the United Kingdom in 20253.

OROV has a relatively fast evolution rate and the ability to genetically reassort. Continuous surveillance of viral changes and progression is needed to help anticipate future outbreaks and UKHSA recently published Oropouche Virus Research & Development (R&D) Roadmap which highlights critical research priorities for Oropouche virus disease.

 

Severity of Symptoms

Along with the spread of OROV cases, recent outbreaks have shown an increase in disease severity. Past infections with OROV caused febrile illness and numerous other symptoms like severe headaches and muscle and joint pain3. More recently, there have been cases resulting in aseptic meningitis and concerningly the WHO have reported possible foetal infection transmitted during pregnancy. Furthermore, fatalities were reported for the first time in 20242.

Currently, there is no specific treatment or vaccination against OROV disease NCPV’s collection contains two strains of OROV. NCPV 1409261v Oropouche Orthobunyavirus, originally deposited in NCPV in 2010 with records indicating it was originally from Brazil in 1961. NCPV 1811921v Oropouche virus strain OROV/EC/Esmeraldas/087/20264,5, deposited in NCPV in 2018 from a sample originally taken in Ecuador in 2016 – as part of a collaboration with the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ).

Oropouche virus has demonstrated effective growth in Vero cells (ECACC 84113001) provided by ECACC.

Oropouche virus disease

 

References 

  1. Zhang, Y., Liu, X., Wu, Z., Feng, S., Lu, K., Zhu, W., Sun, H., & Niu, G. (2024). Oropouche virus: A neglected global arboviral threat. Virus research, 341, 199318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199318

  1. Oropouche virus disease, WHO

  2. NaTHNaC - Oropouche virus disease: information for travellers and health professionals

  3. Isolation of Oropouche Virus from Febrile Patient, Ecuador . Wise EL, Pullan ST, Márquez S, Paz V, Mosquera JD, Zapata S, Jackson SK, Fejer G, Trueba G, Logue CH. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 May;24(5):935-937. doi: 10.3201/eid2405.171569. PMID: 29664378; PMCID: PMC5938787.

  4. Oropouche virus cases identified in Ecuador using an optimised qRT-PCR informed by metagenomic sequencing. Wise EL, Márquez S, Mellors J, Paz V, Atkinson B, et al. (2020) Oropouche virus cases identified in Ecuador using an optimised qRT-PCR informed by metagenomic sequencing. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 14(1): e0007897. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007897

 

 

Useful links

Oropouche virus – a reflection | Culture Collections Dr Emma Wise, UKHSA

Oropouche virus disease - GOV.UK

Oropouche virus research and development roadmap, UKHSA

Oropouche virus disease - Region of the Americas, WHO

 

March 2026
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