UKHSA confirms first UK cases of Oropouche virus in travellers from Brazil. With flu-like symptoms, experts warn holidaymakers to know the signs and take precautions
British travellers are being urged to stay vigilant after the UK recorded its first-ever cases of Oropouche virus (OROV), a mosquito and midge-borne infection that can easily be mistaken for the flu.
According to the latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) report, three cases of Oropouche were identified in travellers returning from Brazil between January and June 2025. While relatively rare, the virus has been spreading across parts of South and Central America and the Caribbean, with Brazil reporting the largest outbreaks.
The infection typically causes high fever, chills, headache, joint pain, and muscle aches – symptoms that closely resemble common viral illnesses, making it easy to misdiagnose. It comes after the NHS warns mouth symptom could be life-shortening disease.
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Dr Philip Veal, Consultant in Public Health at UKHSA, stressed the importance of taking travel precautions. “If a person becomes unwell with these symptoms following travel to affected areas, they should seek urgent medical advice,” he said.
Pregnant travellers, in particular, are advised to be cautious due to recent concerns about Oropouche virus infection during pregnancy.
Symptoms
- Fever or chills
- Severe headache
- Muscle aches or joint pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Rash
- Diarrhoea
The rise in Oropouche cases comes alongside other travel-related infections that UKHSA has been tracking.
Chikungunya – a mosquito-borne virus causing sudden fever and debilitating joint pain – has seen a sharp increase, with 73 cases reported in England in the first half of 2025.
Most affected travellers had returned from Sri Lanka, India, and Mauritius, where outbreaks continue. Although the UK’s climate prevents local mosquitoes from transmitting the disease, severe symptoms can linger for months, particularly joint pain, which affects up to 12 percent of patients even three years after infection.
For those planning trips to higher-risk regions, two chikungunya vaccines are now available in the UK: IXCHIQ® for adults aged 18 to 59 and Vimkunya® for individuals 12 and older. UKHSA recommended consulting a travel clinic to discuss suitability before travelling.
The Travel-associated Infections report also highlights a worrying increase in cholera cases, rising from one case in 2024 to eight in the first half of 2025, largely linked to travel to India and Ethiopia.
Dengue and Zika virus cases, by contrast, have fallen, with 161 dengue cases and just four Zika cases reported across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland during the same period.
Meningococcal serogroup W (MenW) disease has also been noted among UK travellers, particularly those visiting Saudi Arabia for Umrah and Hajj.
The potentially deadly infection can leave survivors with severe lifelong health complications, and vaccination with MenACWY is strongly advised for pilgrims and their close contacts.
UKHSA recommends that travellers consult the Travel Health Pro website at least four to six weeks before departure.
The site provides comprehensive advice on health risks worldwide, helping travellers take preventive measures such as vaccinations, mosquito bite avoidance, and timely medical guidance if symptoms appear.
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