Outbreak of Oropouche Virus in French Guiana

Abstract

Oropouche fever is a zoonotic dengue-like syndrome caused by Oropouche virus. In August-September 2020, dengue-like syndrome developed in 41 patients in a remote rainforest village in French Guiana. By PCR or microneutralization, 23 (82.1%) of 28 tested patients were positive for Oropouche virus, documenting its emergence in French Guiana.

Keywords: Bunyaviridae; French Guiana; Latin America; Oropouche fever; Oropouche virus; Oropoucheorthobunyavirus; arboviruses; dengue-like syndrome; emergent disease; outbreak; vector-borne infections; viruses.

Figure 1

Locations of the town of Saül and 17 remote centers for prevention and care in French Guiana. Black circles: hospital centers; red circles: 24-hour remote centers for prevention and care; dark blue circles: remote centers for prevention and care (not 24-hour); light blue circles: off-site consultations with remote center for prevention and care; orange circles: maternal and child protection centers. Source: Dr. Elise Martin, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, French Guiana.

Figure 2

Spatial distribution of patient settlement around the town of Saül, French Guiana, and results of biologic testing for Oropouche virus by testing method. Geolocation is approximate to preserve patient anonymity. For probable cases (N = 18), samples were not taken. Green area, rainforest; light orange area, main districts of Saül; dark orange lines, forest trails. RCPC, remote centers for prevention and care; RT-PCR+, diagnosed with real-time PCR alone (N = 11); SN+, diagnosed with seroneutralization alone (N = 12).