Travellers warned to take ‘personal protective measures’ against Oropouche virus

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Health officials have warned travellers visiting South America to be “vigilant” after cases of a virus originating in sloths were reported in tourists returning to Europe for the first time. The imported cases of Oropouche virus, most commonly found in South America and the Caribbean, were diagnosed in travellers who had recently visited Cuba, with one Italian patient diagnosed after visiting northern Brazil. The NaTHNaC said: “If you are planning to visit countries reporting arboviral infections, including OROV, get travel health advice from your GP, practice nurse or a travel clinic, ideally at least four to six weeks before you travel.” What does the Oropouche virus mean for pregnant women? The ECDC generally advise pregnant women to “seek pre-travel health advice to assess the risk of infection based on the local situation” as there are currently no vaccines in development.