Bogotá, February 7, 2025 — The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) brought together experts from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Peru, Ecuador, and PAHO Collaborating Centers for Arboviruses in Bogotá on January 22 and 23 to define a strategic research agenda on the Oropouche virus (OROV).
OROV has caused health emergencies in Brazil and Cuba since 2024 and could spread to other countries in the Americas. During the meeting, specialists identified critical gaps in current knowledge. They outlined key strategies to guide future evidence-based efforts in the region.
Challenges and priorities
Socorro Azevedo, a researcher at the Evandro Chagas Institute, a PAHO Collaborating Center for Arboviruses and Emerging Viruses in Brazil, highlighted that the virus has been present in her country since 1960 and emphasized the relevance of recent research on OROV and its link to congenital malformations. "Our group was the first to identify the virus in pregnant women whose babies had congenital malformations. This finding led to a global alert to monitor pregnant women for potential risks," she explained. She stressed that every pregnant woman suspected of Oropouche or Zika infection (another arbovirus that can cause congenital malformations) should be carefully monitored to assess potential impacts on their babies. This monitoring is key to providing care for mothers and their babies, developing preventive strategies, and considering future interventions such as vaccines or specific treatments.
María Guadalupe Guzmán Tirado, Coordinator of the PAHO Collaborating Center for Dengue at the Pedro Kourí Institute in Cuba, agreed on the urgent need to prioritize research on severe cases and their impact on maternal and child health. She emphasized that "it is essential to establish clear criteria to identify risk factors associated with severe or neurological cases and to develop advanced diagnostic tools." She also warned about the possibility of new vectors in the virus's transmission due to its geographic expansion. "It is crucial to investigate which vector transmits the virus most efficiently and to understand how these vectors and the virus interact," she stated.
From Colombia, Ana Cristina Guerra Herrera, an epidemiologist at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the importance of standardizing epidemiological criteria among countries. "While some countries in the region face a significant concentration of confirmed cases, Colombia has experienced localized outbreaks, and other countries have only reported imported cases. We need to strengthen regional epidemiological and clinical surveillance of OROV," she said.
Andrea Vicari, Chief of PAHO's Infectious Hazard Management Unit, highlighted that one of the main challenges is strengthening surveillance and laboratory tools to detect and monitor the virus in specific areas. She stressed that controlling transmission requires identifying the responsible vectors and implementing effective strategies based on social communication and community empowerment. "Research not only improves our understanding of the phenomenon," Vicari noted, "but also informs more effective actions in vector control and clinical management."
A Roadmap for the Region
The meeting concluded with a clear roadmap to coordinate efforts against the Oropouche virus. According to Ludovic Reveiz, Head of the Science and Knowledge for Impact Unit at PAHO, a strategic document with priority inputs will be developed and shared with stakeholders before publication as an official guide. Additionally, generic protocols will be created to harmonize regional scientific actions.
PAHO will play a coordinating role by fostering technical cooperation among countries, researchers, and ethics committees. It will facilitate the necessary coordination to strengthen capacities against this emerging threat. "This is a critical opportunity to work collectively for the well-being of the most vulnerable communities," concluded Andrea Vicari.
For more information on OROV, visit:
https://www.paho.org/es/temas/enfermedad-por-virus-oropouche
