Oropouche fever (OF), caused by Oropouche orthobunyavirus (OROV), is an emerging arboviral disease in the Amazon region and has recently been reported in outbreaks in northeastern Brazil. The vector Culicoides paraensis finds favorable conditions in humid environments and banana plantations, which may contribute to viral maintenance. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of confirmed OF cases in the Baturité Massif (Ceará) in 2024 and discuss a possible correlation with local banana production. This descriptive and retrospective quantitative study was based on data from epidemiological bulletins of the Ceará State Health Department and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), using the 2023 Banana Production Value Map. Confirmed OF cases in 2024 were analyzed by municipality, age, sex, area of residence, and temporal distribution. In 2024, 254 OF cases were confirmed in the Baturité Massif, distributed across Aratuba (67), Capistrano (64), Pacoti (36), Baturité (29), Mulungu (28), Redenção (27), and Palmácia (3). Aratuba (R 6. 18 million) and Capistrano (R 6. 22 million) showed high banana production values in 2023, followed by Pacoti (R 3. 77 million), Mulungu (R 3. 66 million), and Palmácia (R 3. 61 million), suggesting a possible relationship between agricultural production and vector maintenance. Most cases occurred in males (54. 7%) and adults over 20 years of age. Three cases involved pregnant women. Most patients lived in or frequently accessed rural areas. The temporal curve showed a higher number of cases between July and September, coinciding with periods of high humidity. The data indicate a concentration of cases in municipalities with significant banana production, reinforcing the hypothesis of a correlation between agricultural practices and OROV vector ecology. Entomological and environmental studies are needed to better clarify this relationship and support surveillance and control strategies for Oropouche fever in Ceará.
Silva et al. (Sun,) studied this question.