The silent emergence of Oropouche Fever in Brazil: epidemiological study and challenges for public health

Abstract

Oropouche Fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the Orthobunyavirus oropoucheense (OROV), transmitted by arthropods that circulate in South and Central America. Oropouche has been gaining increasing epidemiological relevance in Brazil, as it is considered an arboviral febrile illness that is becoming more frequent in the country. The first cases of the disease date back to the 1950s and 1960s. From that period until today, the disease has primarily been recorded in the form of outbreaks. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the epidemiological profile of Oropouche cases in Brazil between 2023 and 2025. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using data obtained from the Epidemiological Profile platform of the Ministry of Health. Variables such as the number of cases by region and state, age, and sex were assessed. A substantial increase in the number of cases was observed, from 833 cases in 2023 to 13,853 in 2024. Although it is a known disease, it has only recently begun to attract attention, largely due to the rising number of cases, but also because of the geographic spread of arthropod vectors and the globalization of human and animal transport, which may lead to wider dissemination of the disease and the emergence of cases in new regions. There is a need to intensify studies that support the development of public health policies, especially those focused on prevention and treatment, with strategies tailored to the sociodemographic profile of affected populations.