Oropouche virus meningoencephalitis. Case presentation
Keywords:
Arbovirus; Viral meningoencephalitis; Oropouche virus; Case reports; Diagnosis; Fournier's gangrene; Necrotizing fasciitis; Postoperative; Surgical proceduresAbstract
Introduction: Oropouche fever, caused by the Oropouche orthobunyavirus, is an arboviral disease transmitted by blood‑sucking insects. Although usually mild, severe neurological manifestations have been described. In 2024, Cuba reported active transmission in all its provinces.
Objective: To describe the clinical, diagnostic, and evolutionary characteristics of a case of Oropouche virus meningoencephalitis with a fatal outcome.
Case presentation: A 36‑year‑old male from a rural area with a history of surgically corrected hypospadias, right eye amaurosis of 10 days’ duration, and pigeon rearing. He presented with severe occipital headache, vomiting, and dizziness. He developed meningeal signs, fever, progressive neurological deterioration, shock, oliguria, hypokalemia, and cardiorespiratory arrest. PCR confirmed Oropouche, and autopsy revealed severe cerebral edema secondary to meningoencephalitis.
Conclusions: Oropouche virus can cause severe and fatal meningoencephalitis in young patients without comorbidities. This case highlights the need to include this arbovirosis in the differential diagnosis of meningeal syndromes in endemic areas and to perform early virological confirmation.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Roberto Héctor Henry-Knight , Arizaday Ceylin Basulto-Duarte , Yanier Espinosa-Goire , José Manuel Padilla-González
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