Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
06:18
Multiplexed Isothermal Amplification Based Diagnostic Platform to Detect Zika, Chikungunya, and Dengue 1
Published on: March 13, 2018
Spatiotemporal diffusion of the 2024 Oropouche outbreak in Cuba
Rosario Gravier1, Melissa M Perez1, Mayling Álvarez1
1'Pedro Kouri' Tropical Medicine Institute, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for the study of dengue and its control, Havana, Cuba.
Nature Medicine
|July 7, 2026
Summary
Oropouche virus (OROV) rapidly spread in Cuba in 2024. Genetic analysis shows the Cuban OROV strain originated from Brazil, highlighting the virus
Area of Science:
- * Virology and Molecular Epidemiology
- * Arbovirology and Public Health
Background:
- * Oropouche virus (OROV) outbreaks have been reported in Cuba starting May 2024.
- * Understanding OROV's genetic diversity and spread is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To sequence and analyze the whole genomes of OROV strains detected in Cuba.
- * To determine the origin and phylogenetic relationship of the Cuban OROV outbreak.
- * To investigate the introduction pathways and dissemination patterns of OROV within Cuba.
Main Methods:
- * Whole-genome sequencing of 39 OROV samples from 147 RT-PCR positive cases (May-July 2024).
- * Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses to reconstruct viral evolutionary history and geographic spread.
Main Results:
- * All sequenced Cuban OROV genomes belong to the reassortant lineage OROVBR-2015-2025, circulating in Brazil since 2023.
- * Phylogeographic analysis suggests a single introduction from Acre, Brazil, in early February 2024.
- * The virus spread from central Cuba, establishing transmission hubs in western and eastern regions.
Conclusions:
- * The Cuban OROV outbreak originated from Brazil, indicating viral spread beyond South America.
- * Findings highlight OROV's potential for intercontinental transmission and underscore the need for enhanced surveillance.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
01:18Steps in Outbreak Investigation
In the ever-evolving field of public health, statistical analysis serves as a cornerstone for understanding and managing disease outbreaks. By leveraging various statistical tools, health professionals can predict potential outbreaks, analyze ongoing situations, and devise effective responses to mitigate impact. For that to happen, there are a few possible stages of the analysis:
01:28Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence
Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
01:27Influenza
Influenza is an acute, highly communicable viral disease that affects the respiratory tract and is responsible for seasonal epidemics worldwide. Influenza A is the most prevalent type associated with widespread outbreaks and is subtyped based on two surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), as in H1N1. These glycoproteins are essential for viral infectivity, transmission, and immune recognition. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated...
01:29Coronavirus
Coronaviruses, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), are enveloped viruses characterized by their single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome and helical nucleocapsid structure. The hallmark of these viruses is their club-shaped spike (S) glycoproteins that protrude from the viral envelope, facilitating attachment to host cells. Typically, coronaviruses infect the upper respiratory tract, often causing mild or asymptomatic disease. However, certain strains like...
01:24Plague
Plague is a highly virulent zoonotic disease caused by Yersinia pestis, a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic coccobacillus. This pathogen primarily circulates among rodent populations and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected fleas. Additional transmission routes include direct contact with infected animal tissue or inhalation of respiratory droplets from individuals with pneumonic plague. These multiple transmission pathways highlight the bacterium’s potential for rapid...