Avoiding Oropouche: Tips for southbound travelers

A Checklist for Healthy Travel

Ah, the beaches of Brazil – a refuge from the North American winter chill ... just be sure to pack your insect repellent.

As summer approaches in the Southern Hemisphere and holiday travel picks up, cases of Oropouche virus disease have begun to rise again in certain areas of Brazil. Long found in the Amazon River basin, the virus recently spread to areas where it hasn't previously been found.

If you're planning a trip, check CDC's Travel Health Notices to see recommended precautions for different destinations. For example, there's a Level 2 travel notice for Brazil's Espìrito Santo state, just north of Rio de Janeiro. A level 2 notice urges travelers to take enhanced precautions to prevent illness. The rest of Brazil remains under a Level 1 travel health notice, which recommends the usual precautions, such as avoiding insect bites.

Oropouche is an emerging virus in the Americas. Infected biting midges and some mosquito species spread it to people. Oropouche virus has been found in semen, but it is unknown if it can be spread through sex. The recent increase in Oropouche cases and holiday travel to areas with the disease raise the chances that Oropouche virus could spread further.

The best way to avoid Oropouche is to prevent insect bites by wearing EPA-registered bug spray. Oropouche virus infection during pregnancy has been associated with birth defects and stillbirths in some cases, so pregnant travelers should reconsider non-essential travel to areas with a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Oropouche. If you must travel, strictly follow recommendations to prevent insect bites. While it is unknown if Oropouche can be spread by sex, travelers and their partners who visit areas with Oropouche can consider using condoms or not having sex during travel and for 6 weeks after returning from travel.

Before travel

Before heading for the airport, check CDC's Travel Health Notices for your destination and talk to your healthcare provider about your travel plans. That's especially important if you're pregnant.

When booking a room, find a place with air conditioning or screens that can help keep out insects, like biting midges. When outdoors, fans can help blow biting midges away.

And be sure to pack that EPA-registered bug spray and loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants that can protect your arms and legs.

Visit CDC's Before You Travel webpage for more tips.

During travel

Once you're on your trip, use an EPA-registered bug spray when you're outdoors. Wearing the long-sleeved shirts and pants you packed helps, too.

Stay in places with air conditioning and, if possible, screens that are fine enough to keep out biting midges. Look for screens with a 20 x 20 mesh. Being around fans when you're outside can help as well. Travelers and their partners concerned about possibly spreading Oropouche through sex can consider using condoms or not having sex during travel.

For more traveling tips, see CDC's During Travel webpage.

After Travel

Welcome back! So far, the only Oropouche cases in the United States have been in people who traveled to another country where Oropouche is spreading. To help keep it that way, continue using your insect repellent for 3 weeks after returning home. That will help keep biting midges or mosquitoes back home from carrying a virus you might have picked up on your trip and transmitting it to other people.

Travelers and their partners concerned about possibly spreading Oropouche through sex can consider using condoms or not having sex for 6 weeks after returning from travel.

If you start to feel sick:

• See a healthcare provider right away and tell them about your recent travel.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Manage any fever or body aches with acetaminophen.
• Keep taking steps to prevent bug bites through your first week of illness.

CDC also has more tips for how to stay healthy after travel. Bon voyage!