An Insect-Borne Infection Has Emerged Among U.S. Travelers Returning from Cuba

Oropouche virus disease (named after a river in Trinidad), an arboviral infection, has been disseminating in Latin America and the Caribbean. The disease is thought to be spread primarily from mosquitoes to sloths, nonhuman primates, and birds, while midges transmit most cases in people. As of August 2024, 21 travelers returning to the U.S. from Cuba had received diagnoses of Oropouche virus disease. The most common symptoms were fever, myalgia, headache, arthralgias, and gastrointestinal symptoms; 3 people were hospitalized. Diagnosis was confirmed by RT-PCR or serology.

While this infection usually causes mild illness, it is difficult to distinguish clinically from dengue, chikungunya, and Zika infection due to overlapping symptoms. Recrud…