Expanding the spectrum of oropouche virus neurological disease: emerging evidence from the 2025 Panama outbreak.
José Anel González, Monica Pachar-Flores, Laura Naranjo-Lara et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
During the 2024-2025 outbreak in Panama, six patients with confirmed or probable Oropouche virus infection exhibited a range of neurological symptoms, including nystagmus, opsoclonus, ataxia, vertigo, seizures, and altered mental status. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis often showed mononuclear pleocytosis, while neuroimaging was mostly unremarkable. Although most patients recovered with supportive care, one patient died from refractory status epilepticus, and another required prolonged intensive care.
What made this case unusual
This case series highlights the emergence of neurological symptoms associated with Oropouche virus, expanding the known spectrum of the disease in Panama.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for neuroinvasive presentations of Oropouche virus, especially in patients with delayed symptom onset.
Why it matters
The findings emphasize the need for alternative diagnostic approaches, such as testing urine for viral RNA, to improve detection in cases with delayed presentation.